for further and increased co-operation. In addition, UNV continued its active participation in the UNDP Inter-Agency Consultative Meeting. 48. The Administrator is therefore pleased to be able to report that the UNV programme is now fully recognized by Governments and the United Nations system as a viable and essential instrument for technical co-operation programmes. The sharp increase in the total number of requests for volunteers (see annex in UNDP/1985/44/Add. I) clearly supports this conclusion. B.The search for universality 49. As mentioned in the introduction to this report, efforts were intensified to give an even more practical expression to one of the important characteristics of the programme~ its universality. Efforts were made to strengthen relations with co-operatlng organizations and Governments and to enlist their support for their expanded participation in the programme, by identifying and proposing suitable candidates for UNV service. This resulted in co-operation agreements with two more Governments, Poland and Portugal, and consultations are under way with other countries. 50. The second annual UNV Consultative Meeting was held in April 1984 in Geneva with the participation of representatives of Governments and co-sponsoring organizations from both donor and developing countries. Issues discussed were ways of improving the selection, recruitment, utilization and backstopping of volunteers. Such meetings bring to bear on these questions o,oDP/1985/44 English Page 13 the voices of both the contributors of volunteers and the recipients. The Administrator intends to continue the efforts to raise the level of participation of Industrialized country nationals in the UNV programme, which still remains below the optimum. C.An overview of programme operations 51.Numerically, the programme exhibited a steady expansion in 1984. At 31 December, there were 1606 established posts, the highest figure attained since the founding of UNV, comprising 942 volunteers i__nn sit_.__~u, 145 en route to assignments and 519 under recruitment. Four-hundred-twenty UNVs concluded assignments and 490 new volunteers were placed.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, which is likely related to international cooperation and development. The programme is mentioned to be involved in technical cooperation, and the text highlights its expansion and recognition by governments and the United Nations system. The focus on universality, selection, recruitment, and utilization of volunteers suggests that the programme is aimed at promoting global cooperation and development.

**Category**
Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief