Founded in 1940, AFICS groups some 3,000 former staff members of the United Nations and specialized agencies. It encourages solidarity among former officials and promotes the interests of pensioners of the UN system. It provides specialized information and advice on subjects of interest to its members, including pensions, taxation, health insurance and problems encountered by UN pensioners more generally. AFICS is the second largest of 19 similar associations established all over the world, which are organised in the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS).