As the #UN agency for the #postalsector, the Universal Postal Union (#UPU) is called upon to play a decisive role in an #environment which is facing unprecedented change, with the decades-long trends of #liberalization and #digitalization continuing to transform the world. 

The Abidjan Postal Strategy is an ambitious roadmap for 2021-2025 which will be finalized and approved later next week. It reaffirms the UPUs mission, “to stimulate the lasting #development of efficient and accessible universal postal services of #quality in order to facilitate #communication between the inhabitants of the world by:
·       Guaranteeing the free circulation of #postalitems over a #singlepostalterritory composed of interconnected networks
·       Encouraging the adoption of fair #commonstandards and the use of #technology
·       Ensuring cooperation and interaction among #stakeholders
·       Promoting effective technical cooperation and
·       Ensuring the satisfaction of #customers’ changing needs.”

Achieving this mission in accordance with the UN SDGs requires a long-term vision, and an advocacy message – Postal Vision 2030 – urging key postal sector stakeholders to act in a number of areas: 
·  𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 are invited to reduce gaps in postal development by utilizing the postal network for socio-economic development.
·  𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 are encouraged to harmonize and enhance the frameworks under their responsibility. 
·   𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 are expected to boost their performance through diversification and operational improvements. 
·   𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 and 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 should pursue integration into the sector by engaging with traditional stakeholders, and vice-versa, i.e., opening the market, fostering partnerships, and enhancing the role of the UPU.

To best match these objectives, the UPU’s 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 define its aims for 2021–2025:
1.     Strengthen the UPU’s mandate as the foremost forum for postal sector development, through:
a.     Organisation of events and meetings in technical working groups;
b.     Treaties and international agreements
c.     Settlement mechanisms
2.     Reinforce the UPU’s role as a provider of innovative and affordable technical solutions for postal sector stakeholders, through:
a.     #Consulting and capacity building
b.     #ITsolutions
c.     Standards
3.     Enable the UPU to become the prime information and knowledge centre of the postal sector, through:
a.     #Research and insights on market trends
b.     Focused analysis on various topical issues
c.     #Data storage and protection

Overall, these three pillars should enable the UPU to boost its relevance and financial strength, while supporting postal sector stakeholders in achieving Postal Vision 2030.

#update #change #strategy