The UPU cannot deliver alone. Partnerships help strengthen and accelerate the development impact of our projects and policies through both concrete country-level efforts and global and regional initiatives.
With the support of partnerships and stakeholder engagement, the UPU aims to co-create and implement solutions and policies by leveraging local and global postal networks.
As stated in Sustainable Development Goal 17, achieving the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda requires a revitalized and enhanced global partnership that brings together governments, civil society, the private sector, United Nations system and other actors, and mobilizes all available resources.
The UPU is committed to working closely with partners from the private sector and across the UN system, alongside industry stakeholders and organizations that share the objectives of inclusive, innovative and sustainable development across its 192 member countries.
- 75 years of collaboration between the UPU and the International Air Transport Association (IATA): On 17 May 1950, in Montreux, Switzerland, the UPU’s Executive and Liaison Committee decided to create a joint Committee with members of both the UPU and IATA as a forum for post-airlines cooperation. Further to this decision, the first IATA-UPU Contact Committee was held in Cairo, Egypt, from 22 January to 5 February 1951. Since then, this body has met twice a year to develop and maintain a vast array of global policies, processes and standards that make sure that mail can be seamlessly transported by air. We’re celebrating 75 years of constructive dialogue and fruitful collaboration to address logistical challenges and service quality for customers worldwide.
A key partner of the UPU, IATA is also celebrating their 80th anniversary as an organization and we wish them continued growth and success in their endeavors to connect the world, facilitating travel, trade and communication. Read more here
- Driving public health through postal networks: In April 2025, a new partnership agreement was finalized between the UPU and WHO to strengthen collaboration between UPU’s Post4Health and WHO SPECS 2030 initiatives. The initiative introduces a powerful and innovative concept, a service delivery model for the provision of affordable reading glasses through India’s extensive postal network. Find out more.
WHO and UPU join forces to improve access to eyeglasses
16.05.2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to expand access to eye care using postal networks. The collaboration aims to utilize the wide reach of postal services to deliver crucial eye care, including affordable near-vision glasses, to people in different parts of the world.
Partnership unites posts and libraries to bridge the digital divide
05.05.2025 —
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) are partnering to increase access to essential digital services and capacity building through the trusted, accessible global networks of post offices and libraries.
Bridging China’s logistics landscape: How China Post and Cainiao are reimagining “last-mile” rural delivery
28.04.2025 — In recent years, rural e-commerce in China has experienced rapid growth. According to the 2021 National County-Level Digital Agriculture and Rural E-Commerce Development Report released by the China International E-Commerce Network, the total online retail sales across 2,083 counties in China reached 3.53 trillion yuan in 2020, accounting for 30.0% of the country’s total online retail sales. However, the rural logistics ecosystem still faces significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for e-commerce. The logistics network is highly fragmented due to geographical factors, with inefficient sorting mechanisms and complex delivery processes, creating operational bottlenecks - especially in remote areas.