Africa

The region comprises the countries of West and Central Africa and countries of Southern and East Africa. the Development Cooperation  implemented in the region is managed by a regional team at UPU IB headquarters and five regional offices located in Cotonou (Benin), Yaounde (Cameroon), Home-based (Portugal), Dar-Es-Salaam (Tanzania, United Rep) and Harare (Zimbabwe).

During 2017–2019, 172 development and cooperation activities were carried out in Africa, 80% of which related to technical assessment postal services and training for postal staff. Procurement activities represent 37% of financial resources in support of modernization of the postal sector for least developed countries (LDCs) in order to bridge postal sector development gaps between countries, considering the Universal Service Obligation and quality of service as key priority. During this same period, all performance indicators are met, in accordance with the established objectives.

It should be noted that all projects carried out in Africa under the regional development plan (RDP) are conducted in conjunction with the Pan African Postal Union and other restricted unions that support the IB in coordinating activities in the field.

 The main regional projects in Africa included seven group-training workshops, and activities related to procurement of equipment. Moreover, the UPU undertook 33 evaluations of operational and financial services provided by designated operators (DOs), findings show an overall progress on the quality of postal services. However, more efforts are to be made for quality improvements, good governance, increased investments in postal network infrastructures and equipment as well as training of postal agents on the use of technical tools and operating manuals. 

 The Africa region shows great interest in financial inclusion activities and welcomes positively the UPU Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility calls for projects with overall 21 applications made and six projects finally selected for funding. Through this facility the UPU will support eligible member countries to modernize their financial services by providing digitally enabled financial products (e.g. payments, savings) and offer more relevant and accessible financial services to low income populations (rural, young and women)

As the starting point for the regionalization of the UPU technical assistance programme, the Regional development plans (RDPs), introduced by the IB, are based on two fundamental principles:

1. The integration of all IB cooperation activities building on the role of the Development and Cooperation Directorate (DCDEV) as a “single window” interface between the various IB directorates and the countries in need of assistance, resulting in the harmonization of activities conducted in the field by the DCDEV regional programmes, implemented by the regional field experts (RFEs) in cooperation with other players, including Restricted unions (RUs) and consultants; and
2. A regional approach designed to respond to each region’s specific needs by creating synergies with players at the regional level and strengthening and diversifying cooperation mechanisms in the field (partnerships with RUs, regional training centres, economic organizations, etc).

Methodology 

The methodology for the formulation of the RDPs for 2026–2029 aims to promote a shared vision of the deployment of UPU technical assistance activities, and to reinforce close relations with the RUs, international organizations and the various postal sector stakeholders. The RDPs also map regional priorities as defined by postal leaders, authorities and development partners to create synergies with the global postal vision.

 The regional priorities contained in each RDP are then translated into regional thematic projects that should not only lead to effective coordination between development cooperation activities and the actions launched under other funding sources, but also enable each region to benefit from targeted assistance and increased, more active involvement of the RUs.

RDP stakeholders

The RDP is the reference system that groups together all the development activities to be carried out in favour of the countries of each region by the various players, both within the IB and at regional level. It is a common platform for all cooperation players, enabling them to pursue the same objectives and share the same priorities while avoiding duplication of effort as regards both the allocation of resources and the deployment of activities.