Research

30.11.2019 — The UPU’s Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility (FITAF) is undertaking a series of studies to investigate the role played by these factors in the uptake of inclusive financial services. In the first study of the series, we explore a key factor that helps Posts to attract, retain and grow their customer base – trust in the Post .

01.04.2019 — Universal Postal Union (UPU) is examining the role that distributed ledger technology (DLT), blockchain, and cryptocurrencies can play in the postal industry, as well as the role of the UPU and its members in enabling efficient delivery of services.

01.01.2017 — The UPU and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have prepared this Digital Financial Services (DFS) Glossary, which is a compilation of some 140 terms commonly used in the area of DFS.

01.08.2016 — This study, released at the occasion of the Istanbul Congress, presents the current status of postal financial inclusion at the global level. It shows the key role postal networks can play to advance financial inclusion and highlights the importance for postal stakeholders to commit to the digitization of their financial

01.01.2016 — In collaboration with the International Labour Organization, the UPU published in 2016 this study which analyses the potential of postal networks to become well-suited providers of insurance. The report presents three types of business models in which postal insurance can help advancing financial inclusion through insurance access.

01.06.2015 — Published in 2015 in partnership with UN Women, this study shows that in developing countries, Posts that offer account-based services have twice as many female clients as banks. This demonstrates the Posts' capacity to become public policy tools in favor of the financial inclusion of women.

01.10.2013 — This study led with the World Bank shows that unbanked people including the poor, less educated and unemployed are more likely to get their financial services from a post office than a bank.

01.09.2012 —

This report establishes a panorama of postal financial inclusion and presents, for the very first time, the current status of this dimension in financial inclusion.

Based on a questionnaire answered by 123 UPU member countries and the concrete lessons drawn from field missions, the report aims to bridge both the information and awareness gaps on the role of Posts in financial inclusion by providing statistical information on postal operators. It is intended for governments, postal operators and development partners alike, and is an important tool in the fight against financial exclusion.