14 Services provided by the Organizations in Promoting Social science Research

Tariq Ashraf

1. Introduction

There are several organizations and institutions setup by government of India and international organizations which play important role in collecting, organizing and disseminating social science information used by social scientist and researchers. These institutions bring out publications and provide documentation services which help social scientists in carrying out their research work more effectively. These institutions also provide financial grants and scholarships to scholars for attending conferences, seminars and workshops and conduct training programmes for their capacity building needs.

Some of the important organizations are described below:

2. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)

Established in 1969, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is an apex body to promote research in

social sciences in the country.

The Council was meant to:

Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;
Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences;
Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences;
Indicate areas in which social science research is to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas;
Give financial support to institutions, associations, and journals engaged in social science research;
Arrange for technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research;
Co-ordinate research activities and encourage progrmmes for interdisciplinary research;
Develop and support centers for documentation services and supply of data;
Organize, sponsor, and finance seminars, workshops and study groups;
Undertake publication and assist publication of journals and books in social sciences;
Advice the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time; and take such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilization. (http://www.icssr.org/about_icssr.htm).

To meet these above objectives, ICSSR runs several programmes like international collaboration, cultural exchange programme, Academic Contacts with organizations/Countries not Covered under CEPs and Collaboration with Multilateral Organizations to facilitate activities like visit of scholars under cultural exchange programmes, participation in international seminars/conferences abroad, data collection abroad and organising seminars/conferences/workshops in India.

The Research Survey and Publication Division (RSP) of ICSSR brings out several research based publications having an important role to play in the promotion of research activities in the field of social sciences. The Council has an extensive programme of publication.

Another important function of ICSSR is monitoring of the progress of research in social science and has undertaken the task of surveying developments in the various fields of social sciences in right earnest through publishing Journals of Abstracts and Reviews in the disciplines of Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology and Social Anthropology and its programme of Research Survey.

The ICSSR regularly undertakes publishing work and has already published, in addition to a number of journals, over 350 books, pamphlets and monographs. The publications result from different programmes of the Council, such as : Survey of Research in Social Sciences; Studies on Alternatives in Development; Research Projects; Sponsored Programmes; Fellowships; Conferences, Workshops and Seminars; International Collaboration, etc.

One of most important activity of ICSSR is setting up of National Social Science Documentation Centre-NASSDOC, India’s Leading Information Centre for Research and Innovations in Social Sciences.

National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), was established in 1969 as a Division of the ICSSR with the objective to provide library and information support services to researchers in social sciences; those working in academic institutions, autonomous research organisations, policy making, planning and research units of government departments, business and industry etc. NASSDOC also provides guidance to libraries of ICSSR Regional Centres and ICSSR supported Research Institutes. (http://www.icssr.org/doc_main.htm)

2.1. Facilities Available at NASSDOC: NASSDOC provides following facilities to researcher scholars and social scientist:

i. Documentation Library and Reference Service;

ii. Collection of unpublished doctoral dissertations, research project reports, current and old volumes of social science journals of Indian and foreign origin;

iii. Literature Search Service from printed and digital databases, i.e. CD-ROMS, floppies, Online database etc;

iv. Compilation of short bibliographies on request;

v. Study grant to doctoral students for collection of research material from various libraries located in different parts of India;

vi. Financial assistance is provided for taking up bibliographical and documentation projects;

vii. Document Delivery Service is provided by procuring books and journals on Inter-library loan or by photocopying the documents;

viii. Short-term training courses are organized for the research scholars, social scientists, librarians and IT professionals to acquaint them with the latest information and communication technology; and

ix. Cyber Cafe, to facilitate access to internet resources on social sciences.

Thus it can be concluded that ICSSR is playing a stellar role in providing access to social science information in India and promotion of research and publications.

3. INFLIBNET

Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre is an Autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of University Grants Commission (UGC) involved in creating infrastructure for sharing of library and information resources and services among Academic and Research Institutions. INFLIBNET works collaboratively with Indian university libraries to shape the future of the academic libraries in the evolving information environment. (www.inflibnet.ac.in)

3.1 Services

INFLIBNET provides following services to libraries.

3.1.1 Document Delivery through JCCC

INLIBNET has initiated inter-library loans and document delivery services from the comprehensive collection of subscribed journals under JCCC@UGC- INFONET. ILL is also known as Inter-Library Lending. INFLIBNET has designated 22 libraries to fulfil ILL request from the users, affiliated to 149 universities covered under UGC. The ILL libraries together subscribe for 2000 plus journals that is not available through consortia. Universities can request for articles from the journal holdings of those libraries wherever they find useful articles in JCCC search, that are not available in that library.

3.1.2 Bibliographic Union Databases

Creation of databases is one of the major activities of INFLIBNET. This activity has been initiated since inception of the programme. Currently there are eight databases under development. These are grouped under following two categories.

3.1.2.1. Bibliographic Databases

i. Serials Holdings

Union database of Serials holdings cover the bibliographic information of serials available in more than 96 University/Institute libraries. It has over 12,829 unique titles with 44,560 holdings details. Serials, learned journals, periodicals classified under the serial collection by the universities are covered in this database.

ii. Theses

Union database of Theses covers the bibliographic Metadata of Doctoral Theses submitted to 287Universities/Institutes in India. It has over 2,51,839 unique records from all subject areas.This Data is contributed by participating Universities and INFLIBNET hascollected more data from various reliable sources, university announcements etc. INFLIBNET as an IUC of UGC, request all research scholars and faculty members of Indian Universities and Librarians to contribute the Doctoral Theses information to it.

iii. Books

Books database contains the records contributed by participating libraries. Utmost care has been taken to filter the redundancy to improve the quality of the database.

3.1.2.2. Non-bibliographic Databases

i. Research Projects

Research Project Database is details of the accomplished and ongoing funded projects, carried out by various faculty members, working at various universities in India. Currently, it contains more than 13600 research project’s information funded by various funding agencies viz. UGC, ICAR, ICMR, DST and DBT etc. The details of the project information have been collected from the project directors, and funding agencies.

ii. Vidwan: Expert Database

VIDWAN is the premier database of profiles of scientists / researchers and other faculty members working at leading R & D Organisation and other Academic Institutions involved in teaching and research in India. It provides important information about expert’s background, contact address, skills and accomplishments.

The database is being developed by INFLIBNET Centre, Infocity, Gandhinagar. The database offers expertise of more than 36,500 faculties from 1519 nation’s leading institutions. Attempt has been made to provide access to relevant and accurate information collected from various sources. Web enabled interface has been incorporated to facilitate the search and update names listed in the database. On Expert Database, you are not limited to publishing a static Profile(s). Our members can take advantage of many “value – added” offerings such as having Books and Articles published on the personal website and linked to their Profile(s).

The bibliographic databases represent the holdings of university libraries, for which the data is contributed by participating libraries. These databases provide an access to large pool of information available besides, serving as tool for resource sharing. Non bibliographic databases are created to promote the communication among the scholars.

3.2. Publications

The INFLIBNET Centre publishes following publications regularly:

i.Annual Report: Current Report.

ii.INFLIBNET Newsletter: It is a quarterly publication on the INFLIBNET’s activities.

iii.Proceedings of Annual Conventions PLANNER and CALIBER: the articles published in these proceedings are available for free download at the website http://ir.inflibnet.ac.in

iv.INFLIBNET Directory includes information about the UGC funded universities and Inter-University Centres with year planner. The contact details of the universities and IUCs are also added with the contact person’s name of the VC, Registrar, Librarian and the contact person of the UGC-Infonet one from library and one from computer science department. It also contains the staff list of the Centre with contact details. The updated contact details of the universities and IUCs are available at the website (http://libserver.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/wwwisis/add.01/form.htm).

Apart from these publications, INFLIBNET has also published following documents for the user libraries related to various activities of the centre:

v. Guidelines for Data Capturing: Manual describes the field tags identified from the Common Communication Format (CCF) for creating bibliographic records of the library resources. It elaborates about the field tags with definitions and proper examples for users understanding. The fields taken into the manual were identified by the INFLIBNET Task Force formed by the University Grants Commission. Now INFLIBNET follows the MARC21, details about the MARC21 can be found from the Library of Congress website.(http://www.loc.gov/marc).

vi. SOUL Guidelines for Data Capturing: a user manual: This user manual is prepared looking in to the fields available in the data entry sheet of the SOUL Catalogue module. This manual provides definition with examples on each fields identified in the catalogue module for the Books, Theses and Serial.

vii.MARC21 Code List for Field Identification: It is a list of fields identified from the MARC21 Bibliographic Format for database creation at Indian universities for library resources. The fields were identified by the MARC21 Core Group of the INFLIBNET Centre.

viii.Field List for Name and Subject Authority Database: It is a list of fields identified from the MARC21 Authority Format for authority database creation at INFLIBNET Centre for name and subject authority databases. The fields were identified by the MARC21 Core Group of the INFLIBNET Centre.

ix.Fields for Indian Manuscript Database Creation: It is a list of fields identified from the MARC21 Bibliographic Format for database creation of Indian manuscript. The fields were identified by the MARC21 Core Group of the INFLIBNET Centre.

x.Bibliographic Standards: It is a list of the bibliographic standards and their websites. Mostly being followed by the INFLIBNET Centre for its activities at national level.

xi.Data Input Sheet for Retro Conversion

xii.Information Brochures on INFLIBNET Centre, UGC-Infonet, UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium

3.3. Shodhganga: A Reservoir of Indian Theses

Theses and dissertations are known to be the rich and unique source of information, often the only source of research work that does not find its way into various publication channels. Theses and dissertations remain an un-tapped and under-utilized asset, leading to unnecessary duplication and repetition that, in effect, is the anti-theses of research and wastage of huge resources, both human and financial.

The UGC Notification (Minimum Standards & Procedure for Award of M.Phil. / Ph.D. Degree, Regulation, 2009) dated 1st June 2009 mandates submission of electronic version of theses and dissertations by the researchers in universities with an aim to facilitate open access to Indian theses and dissertations to the academic community world-wide. Online availability of electronic theses through centrally-maintained digital repositories, not only ensure easy access and archiving of Indian doctoral theses but will also help in raising the standard and quality of research.

“Shodhganga” is the name coined to denote digital repository of Indian Electronic Theses and Dissertations set-up by the INFLIBNET Centre.

The Shodhganga@INFLIBNET is set-up using an open source digital repository software called DSpace developed by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in partnership between Hewlett- Packard (HP). The DSpace uses internationally recognized protocols and interoperability standards.Shodhganga provides a platform for research scholars to deposit their Ph.D. theses and make it available to the entire scholarly community in open access. The repository has the ability to capture, index, store, disseminate and preserve ETDs (Electronic Theses and Dissertations) submitted by the researchers.

3.4. UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium

The UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium was formally launched in December, 2003 by Honourable Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, the President of India soon after providing the Internet connectivity to the universities in the year 2003 under the UGC-Infonetprogramme. The Consortium proved to be a recipe to university libraries which have been discontinuing subscription of scholarly journals because of “Serials Crisis”. The term “serials crisis” refers to exponential and continuing increase in subscription cost of scholarly journals. The crisis is a result of rise in cost of journals much faster than the rate of inflation, increase in number of journals and the paucity of funds available to the libraries

The Consortium provides current as well as archival access to more than 7000+ core and peer-reviewed journals and 10 bibliographic databases from 26 publishers and aggregators in different disciplines. The programme has been implemented in phased manner. In the first phase that began in 2004, access to e-resources was provided to 50 universities who had Internet connectivity under the UGC-Infonet Connectivity programme of the UGC. In the second phase, 50 more universities were added to the programme in the year 2005. So far 160 Universities out of 181 that come under the purview of UGC, have been provided differential access to subscribed e-resources. These e-resources covers almost all subject disciplines including arts, humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, chemical Sciences, life sciences, computer sciences, mathematics and statistics, etc. The programme is wholly funded by the UGC and executed by the INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network) Centre, Ahmedabad.

The benefit of subscription to e-resources would also be extended to the colleges, to begin with the College for Potential with Excellence (CPE) and autonomous colleges. The Consortium has also launched its “Associate Membership Programme” wherein private universities and other research organizations are welcomed to join the Consortium for selected e-resources.

4. United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The UN has 4 main purposes

To keep peace throughout the world;
To develop friendly relations among nations;
To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.

The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peace building, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.

United Nations undertakes extensive research, documentation and publication work under through its network of 63 United Nations Information Centres which serve as key to the Organization’s ability to reach the peoples of the world and to share the United Nations story with them in their own languages. These centres, working in coordination with the UN system, reach out to the media and educational institutions, engage in partnerships with governments, local civil society organizations and the private sector, and maintain libraries and electronic information resources.

United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) are the principal sources of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located. UNICs are responsible for promoting greater public understanding of and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating information on the work of the Organization to people everywhere, especially in developing countries.

By translating information materials into local languages, engaging opinion-makers and placing op-ed articles by senior United Nations officials in the national media, or organizing events to highlight issues or observances, the network of UNICs is one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations tells its story to the world. They give global messages a local accent and help bring the UN closer to the people it serves. Information Centres are part of the Department of Public Information (DPI). The first two UNICs were established in 1946. At present, there are 63 Information Centres, Services and Offices worldwide. The United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels, Belgium, covers 21 countries in Western Europe. In addition, the Information Centres in Cairo, Mexico City, and Pretoria, where there are high concentrations of media outlets, are responsible for working strategically with Centres in neighboring countries to develop and implement communications plans to promote United Nations priority themes in a way that has special resonance in their respective regions.

4.1 Information Products of UNIC

UNICs offer products and services such as newsletters, libraries, videos, web sites and internet facilities. At the national/local level, UNICs work with media by providing information and training for journalists and contributing regularly to television and radio programmes and articles in newspapers. The centres often work with civil society in promoting a variety of issues through seminars, exhibits and other activities.

5. World Bank

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.

World Banks is not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development. Established in 1944, the World Bank is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and have more than 9,000 employees in more than 100 offices worldwide.

World Bank undertakes publication and research work and has developed several databases which are used widely.It brings out several reports regularly and has developed an e-library which is a subscription-based collection of thousands of books, reports, journals, and working papers.

World Bank maintains an open knowledge repository consisting of following documents:

Collections

5.1 World Development Indicators

It is most widely used report annuallypublished by World Bank and provides high-quality cross-country comparable statistics about development and people’s lives around the globe. (http://data.worldbank.org/)

5.2 Data Catalog

The World Bank’s Open Data initiative is intended to provide all users with access to World Bank data, according to the Open Data Terms of Use. The data catalog is a listing of available World Bank datasets, including databases, pre-formatted tables, reports, and other resources. (http://datacatalog.worldbank.org/)

5.3 Research

The research department is the World Bank’s principal research unit—within the Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC).Its mandate includes research that may be cross-country and across sectors, and reach beyond specific regional units or sector boards.

With nine programs, it produces the majority of the Bank’s research and enjoys a high international profile. The works of researchers appear in academic journals, the World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, books, blogs, and special publications such as the Policy Research Reports. (http://econ.worldbank.org)

6. International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 188 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The IMF works to foster global growth and economic stability. It provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and also works with developing nations to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty. (http://www.imf.org).

The IMF’s fundamental mission is to help ensure stability in the international system. It does so in three ways:keeping track of the global economy and the economies of member countries; lending to countries with balance of payments difficulties; and giving practical help to members. (http://www.imf.org/external/about/ourwork.htm)

6.1 Data and Statistics

The IMF publishes a range of time series data on IMF lending, exchange rates and other economic and financial indicators. Manuals, guides, and other material on statistical practices at the IMF, in member countries, and of the statistical community at large are also available.

6.2 IMF Data Series:

World Economic
International Financial Statistics
Principal Global Indicator
Public Sector Debt Statistics
Direction of Trade Statistics

7. TEXT FOR VOICE NARRATION

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)

Established in 1969, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is an apex body to promote research in social sciences in the country. The Council was meant to:

Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;
Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences;
Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences;
Indicate areas in which social science research is to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas;
Give financial support to institutions, associations, and journals engaged in social science research;
Arrange for technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research;
Co-ordinate research activities and encourage programmes for interdisciplinary research;
Develop and support centers for documentation services and supply of data;
Organize, sponsor, and finance seminars, workshops and study groups;
Undertake publication and assist publication of journals and books in social sciences;
Advice the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time; and take such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilization.(http://www.icssr.org/about_icssr.htm)

7.3. INFLIBNET

Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre [www.inflibnet.ac.in ] is an Autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of University Grants Commission (UGC) involved in creating infrastructure for sharing of library and information resources and services among Academic and Research Institutions. INFLIBNET works collaboratively with Indian university libraries to shape the future of the academic libraries in the evolving information environment.

7.4. INFLIBNET provides following services to libraries.

7.4.1. Document Delivery through JCCC

INLIBNET has initiated interlibrary loans and document delivery services from the comprehensive collection of subscribed journals under JCCC@UGC- INFONET. ILL is also known as Inter-Library Lending.

7.4.2. Bibliographic Union Databases

Creation of databases is one of the major activities of INFLIBNET. This activity has been initiated since inception of the programme.

7.5 Bibliographic Databases

Serials Holdings
Union database of Theses
Books

7.6. Non-bibliographic Databases

Research Projects
Vidwan: Expert Database
The INFLIBNET Centre publishes following publications regularly:

7.7. Annual Report: Current Report.

INFLIBNET Newsletter.
Proceedings of Annual Conventions PLANNER and CALIBER
INFLIBNET Directory

Apart from these publications, INFLIBNET has also published following documents for the user libraries related to various activities of the centre:

Guidelines for Data Capturing
SOUL Guidelines for Data Capturing
MARC21 Code List for Field Identification:
Fields for Indian Manuscript Database Creation:
Bibliographic Standards:
Data Input Sheet for Retro Conversion
Information Brochures on INFLIBNET Centre, UGC-Infonet, UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium Shodhganga: A Reservior of Indian Theses.

7.8. United Nations

7.8.1. Information Products of UNIC

7.9. World Bank

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.

World Bank undertakes publication and research work and has developed several databases which are used widely. It brings out several reports regularly and has developed an e-library which is a subscription-based collection of thousands of books, reports, journals, and working papers.

World Bank maintains an open knowledge repository consisting of following documents:

7.9.1. World Development Indicators

It is most widely used report annually published by World Bank and provides high-quality cross-country comparable statistics about development and people’s lives around the globe.

7.10. Data Catalog

7.11. Research

The research department is the World Bank’s principal research unit—within the Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC)., its mandate includes research that may be cross-country and across sectors, and reach beyond specific regional units or sector boards.

7.12. International Monetary Fund

7.12.1.Data and Statistics

7.12.2 IMF Data Series:

World Economic
International Financial Statistics
Principal Global Indicator
Public Sector Debt Statistics
Direction of Trade Statistics

8. CHUNK TEXT

8.1 Introduction

There are several organizations and institutions setup by government of India and international organizations which play important role in collecting, organizing and disseminating social science information which is used by social scientist and researchers. Some of the important organizations are described below:

8.2 Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)

Established in 1969, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is an apex body to promote research in social sciences in the country. The Council was meant to:
Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;
Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences;
Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences;
Indicate areas in which social science research is to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas;
Give financial support to institutions, associations, and journals engaged in social science research;
Arrange for technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research;
Co-ordinate research activities and encourage progrmmes for interdisciplinary research;
Develop and support centers for documentation services and supply of data;
Organize, sponsor, and finance seminars, workshops and study groups;
Undertake publication and assist publication of journals and books in social sciences;
Advise the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time; and take such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilization.

8.3 INFLIBNET

Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre [www.inflibnet.ac.in ] is an Autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of University Grants Commission (UGC) involved in creating infrastructure for sharing of library and information resources and services among Academic and Research Institutions.
INFLIBNET works collaboratively with Indian university libraries to shape the future of the academic libraries in the evolving information environment.

INFLIBNET provides following services to libraries.

8.3.1. Document Delivery through JCCC

INLIBNET has initiated interlibrary loans and document delivery services from the comprehensive collection of subscribed journals under JCCC@UGC- INFONET.

8.3.2. Bibliographic Union Databases

Creation of databases is one of the major activities of INFLIBNET. This activity has been initiated since inception of the programme.

8.4. Bibliographic Databases

Serials Holdings
Union database of Theses
Books

8.5. Non-bibliographic Databases

Research Projects
Vidwan: Expert Database

The INFLIBNET Centre publishes following publications regularly:

8.6. Annual Report: Current Report

INFLIBNET Newsletter.
Proceedings of Annual Conventions PLANNER and CALIBER
INFLIBNET Directory

Apart from these publications, INFLIBNET has also published following documents for the user libraries related to various activities of the centre:

Guidelines for Data Capturing
SOUL Guidelines for Data Capturing
MARC21 Code List for Field Identification:
Fields for Indian Manuscript Database Creation:
Bibliographic Standards:
Data Input Sheet for Retro Conversion
Information Brochures on INFLIBNET Centre, UGC-Infonet, UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium
Sodhganga: A Reservoir of Indian Theses

8.7. United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.
United Nations undertakes extensive research, documentation and publication work under through its network of 63 United Nations Information Centres which serve as key to the Organization’s ability to reach the peoples of the world and to share the United Nations story with them in their own languages.
These centres, working in coordination with the UN system, reach out to the media and educational institutions, engage in partnerships with governments, local civil society organizations and the private sector, and maintain libraries and electronic information resources.
United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) are the principal sources of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located. UNICs are responsible for promoting greater public understanding of and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating information on the work of the Organization to people everywhere, especially in developing countries.

8.8World Bank

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.
World Bank undertakes publication and research work and has developed several databases which are used widely.
It brings out several reports regularly and has developed an e-library which is a subscription-based
collection of thousands of books, reports, journals, and working papers.

World Bank maintains an open knowledge repository consisting of following documents:

8.8.1. World Development Indicators

It is most widely used report annuallypublished by World Bank and provides high-quality cross-country comparable statistics about development and people’s lives around the globe.

8.8.2. Data Catalog

The World Bank’s Open Data initiative is intended to provide all users with access to World Bank data, according to the Open Data Terms of Use.
The data catalog is a listing of available World Bank datasets, including databases, pre-formatted tables, reports, and other resources.

8.8.3. Research

The research department is the World Bank’s principal research unit—within the Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC).,
Its mandate includes research that may be cross-country and across sectors, and reach beyond specific regional units or sector boards.

8.9. International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 188 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
The IMF works to foster global growth and economic stability. It provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and also works with developing nations to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty. (http://www.imf.org)

8.9.1. Data and Statistics

The IMF publishes a range of time series data on IMF lending, exchange rates and other economic and financial indicators.
Manuals, guides, and other material on statistical practices at the IMF, in member countries, and of the statistical community at large are also available.

8.9.2. IMF Data Series:

World Economic
International Financial Statistics
Principal Global Indicator
Public Sector Debt Statistics
Direction of Trade Statistics

9. Conclusion

Thus it can be seen that globally there are several organization contributing to social science research and disseminating important information and brining out publications regularly. These publications play vital role as they have both global perspective and reach.

you can view video on Services provided by the Organizations in Promoting Social science Research

References: