White paper
The white paper, as part of the “Addressing the world — An address for everyone” initiative, highlights the value of addresses with the aim of enlightening political leaders on the importance of address infrastructure.
The publication provides various perspectives on addressing. A historical perspective reveals the motivations behind the emergence of addressing systems, which surprisingly were not driven by the post. The theoretical perspective examines whether address infrastructure can be considered as a global public good and who is responsible for its provision. The practical perspective presents the impacts of address infrastructure through eight policy dimensions: governance, urban development and management, migration and social integration, security, economy, commerce, information and technology and environmental sustainability and natural disaster management. Examples from Tanzania, Denmark, Korea (Rep.), Costa Rica and India show how addresses help inform inclusive and resilient policies that support development.
The white paper also includes contributions from eight1 international partners who share their addressing experiences, provide guidelines and highlight linkages between the role of address infrastructure and the fulfilment of their activities.
Addressing Declaration
Special Ambassador, Prof. Anna Tibaijuka, Tanzania’s Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development will present the white paper and Addressing Declaration on 8-9 October 2012 at the UPU’s 25th Universal Postal Congress in Doha.
Thanks to her extensive experience in the field of development and urban policies, at both national and international levels, as well as her commitment to developing countries, the UPU hopes Prof. Tibaijuka’s involvement will inspire other member countries and international partners to support the initiative.
The Addressing Declaration, to be adopted by the 25th UPU Congress in Doha, summarizes the major conclusions presented throughout the white paper in the hope that no effort will be spared to ensure that everyone has an address.
1 African Union (AU), EURopean ADdress INfrastructure (EURADIN), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the World Bank (WB).
