IGF 2024 Open Forum #20 CONNECT.POST: Connect communities through the postal network

IGF 2024 Open Forum #20 CONNECT.POST: Connect communities through the postal network
17 December 2024
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
UPU

Organization's Website

https://upu.int

Subtheme

Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age

Roundtable

Duration (minutes): 60

Format description: To enhance the attendees' active participation and engagement

Description

The gains from digital transformation are currently unevenly distributed. As our world becomes increasingly digital and essential services shift to digital channels, not everyone has access to the benefits of digitalization. A significant portion of the global population and MSMEs remains offline and many of those who have access are not connected in a meaningful way that allows them to access digital services or participate in the digital economy because of a lack of digital literacy, subpar Internet connectivity, and a lack of relevant services, among other barriers.

The UPU’s global network of over 650,000 post offices is strategically positioned to reach unconnected and under-connected people and businesses, especially in rural and remote areas where a majority of post offices are located.

The UPU launched the CONNECT.POST initiative at the end of 2022 seeking to leverage digitally connected postal infrastructure to advance inclusive digital transformations and contribute to addressing these challenges. CONNECT.POST aims to achieve these goals by:

  1. Expanding high-speed internet access to all post offices and the communities they serve by 2030, extending connectivity to underserved areas

  2. Providing public access to digital services and skills training

  3. Supporting digital and in-person access to e-government, e-commerce, and digital financial services at post offices, ensuring inclusion for all

After significant progress, working closely with partners like the .POST Group and the Caribbean Telecommunication Union, we will take stock of what has been accomplished so far to best inform the plan for 2025 to maximize the contribution of the initiative towards the SDGs and the overarching Leave No One Behind agenda.

The online moderator will facilitate the interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees. Online survey tools will be used to enhanced both onsite and online participation, e.g. Mentimeter

Organizers

?Universal Postal Union

Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, WEOG, United Nations Tracy Hackshaw, Chef d'Entreprise, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, Latin America & Caribbean, United Nations, Kevin Hernadez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, WEOG, Intergovernmental Organisation

Speakers

  • Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union

  • Nigel Cassimire, Deputy Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union

  • Yu Ping Chan, Head, Digital Partnerships and Engagement, Executive Office, UNDP

  • Kerry-Ann Barrett, Chief, Cybersecurity Section, Organization of American States

  • Christian Rasmussen, Beyon Connect

  • TBC, Saudi Post | SPL

  • TBC, Internet Society

Onsite Moderator

Tracy Hackshaw, Chef d'Entreprise, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Latin America & Caribbean

Online Moderator

Kevin Hernndez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (Moderator)

Rapporteur

Kevin Hernadez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, WEOG, Intergovernmental Organisation

SDGs

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

9.1

9.3

9.a

9.c

Targets: 9.1, Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient postal infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all 9.3, Increase the access of MSMEs, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, and their integration into value chains and markets through the postal network 9.a, Facilitate sustainable and resilient postal infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 9.c, increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries through the postal network

Background Paper

Event page

 

Organization's Website

 

 

https://upu.int

 

 

Subtheme

 

 

Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age

 

 

Roundtable

 

 

Duration (minutes): 60

 

 

Format description: To enhance the attendees' active participation and engagement

 

 

Description

 

 

The gains from digital transformation are currently unevenly distributed. As our world becomes increasingly digital and essential services shift to digital channels, not everyone has access to the benefits of digitalization. A significant portion of the global population and MSMEs remains offline and many of those who have access are not connected in a meaningful way that allows them to access digital services or participate in the digital economy because of a lack of digital literacy, subpar Internet connectivity, and a lack of relevant services, among other barriers.

 

 

The UPU’s global network of over 650,000 post offices is strategically positioned to reach unconnected and under-connected people and businesses, especially in rural and remote areas where a majority of post offices are located.

 

 

The UPU launched the CONNECT.POST initiative at the end of 2022 seeking to leverage digitally connected postal infrastructure to advance inclusive digital transformations and contribute to addressing these challenges. CONNECT.POST aims to achieve these goals by:

 

 

 

  1. Expanding high-speed internet access to all post offices and the communities they serve by 2030, extending connectivity to underserved areas
  2. Providing public access to digital services and skills training
  3. Supporting digital and in-person access to e-government, e-commerce, and digital financial services at post offices, ensuring inclusion for all

 

 

 

After significant progress, working closely with partners like the .POST Group and the Caribbean Telecommunication Union, we will take stock of what has been accomplished so far to best inform the plan for 2025 to maximize the contribution of the initiative towards the SDGs and the overarching Leave No One Behind agenda.

 

 

The online moderator will facilitate the interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees. Online survey tools will be used to enhanced both onsite and online participation, e.g. Mentimeter

 

 

Organizers

 

 

?Universal Postal Union

 

 

Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, WEOG, United Nations Tracy Hackshaw, Chef d'Entreprise, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, Latin America & Caribbean, United Nations, Kevin Hernadez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, WEOG, Intergovernmental Organisation

 

 

Speakers

 

 

 

  • Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union
  • Nigel Cassimire, Deputy Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union
  • Yu Ping Chan, Head, Digital Partnerships and Engagement, Executive Office, UNDP
  • Kerry-Ann Barrett, Chief, Cybersecurity Section, Organization of American States
  • Christian Rasmussen, Beyon Connect
  • TBC, Saudi Post | SPL
  • TBC, Internet Society

 

 

 

Onsite Moderator

 

 

Tracy Hackshaw, Chef d'Entreprise, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Latin America & Caribbean

 

 

Online Moderator

 

 

Kevin Hernndez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (Moderator)

 

 

Rapporteur

 

 

Kevin Hernadez, Digital Inclusion Expert, Universal Postal Union, WEOG, Intergovernmental Organisation

 

 

SDGs

 

 

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

 

 

9.1

 

 

9.3

 

 

9.a

 

 

9.c

 

 

Targets: 9.1, Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient postal infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all 9.3, Increase the access of MSMEs, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, and their integration into value chains and markets through the postal network 9.a, Facilitate sustainable and resilient postal infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 9.c, increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries through the postal network

 

 

Background Paper