A rolling reform process that started in Doha, and continued in Istanbul, is reshaping the Universal Postal Union for the 21st Century. The reform initiative reaches a crucial point in September in Addis Ababa at only the UN Specialized Agency’s second Extraordinary Congress.
Over five days the Congress will examine the present status of the World Postal Strategy, while also boldly looking ahead and discussing other urgent matters. An overriding Congress aim is to promote the role and relevance of the UPU as the cornerstone of postal regulation at the local, regional and international levels.
“As a UN agency and forum for 192 member countries, the UPU is the key player that can help our sector move ahead. But it can only do so if it is functioning to its highest potential,” said UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein when speaking in St. Lucia at the CPU 21st Annual Conference on 9 July.
To ensure UPU is fit-for-purpose, the Extraordinary Congress will discuss several key areas, including UPU reform. The goal is to increase the organization’s efficiency and increase the speed of decision-making processes so that UPU can effectively respond to the requests of member countries and designated operators.
Other improvements relate to reform of the contributions system, the sustainability of the organization’s provident scheme, and the implementation of the integrated product plan and its related remuneration structure.
If the reforms are endorsed at the Extraordinary Congress, they will help transform the UPU activities and give members an equitable opportunity to make informed decisions.
With severe challenges to the traditional business postal model, there has been an increasing need to capitalize on e-commerce and digitalization.
UPU’s repositioning enables the organization to use its expertise in technology, the strength of its treaties and its position within the United Nations system to support the postal sector. Reform represents a giant step towards achieving this objective.