Goal 8: Decent work & economic growth


The provision of basic postal financial services contributes significantly to global economic and social development and plays an important role in improving living standards. 

Due to the capillarity of its network and its universal service mandate, the Post is able to reach people everywhere, including disadvantaged groups or those in remote areas, with affordable financial services. UPU research has shown that countries with a greater level of postal development have on average a larger percentage of adults who possess a bank account—a sign of financial inclusion. 

In fact, 1.5 billion people already access basic financial services through the Post, highlighting the sector’s contribution to targets under Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Development).

The Universal Postal Union is working to maximize the Post’s contribution to financial inclusion Goal 8 by fostering global postal development and ensuring that the postal financial services offered across its network of 192 member countries are truly modern and inclusive. 

News & media

Empowering women in the postal sector: UPU fellowship fuels leadership and innovation

Empowering women in the postal sector: UPU fellowship fuels leadership and innovation

04.04.2025 — On 4 November 2024, UPU kicked off the Council of Administration (CA) session at the UPU’s headquarters, in Berne, Switzerland. This year, with funding from its capacity building programme, the UPU granted fellowships to six women leaders in the postal sector to support their participation in the autumn meeting of the Union’s supervisory body. The six fellows represented Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Yemen, Malawi, Vanuatu, and Kyrgyzstan.  
Posts and fintechs unite for women’s digital financial inclusion

Posts and fintechs unite for women’s digital financial inclusion

01.04.2025 — On 12 March 2025, shortly after International Women’s Day, the UPU hosted a dynamic webinar exploring how partnerships between postal operators and fintechs can drive digital financial inclusion for women and girls worldwide. The event also marked the launch of the UPU study on Post–fintech partnerships to overcome gender inequality through access to postal digital financial services. More than 240 participants joined the online event, representing diverse regions and numerous countries.
Posts: a national asset in need of transformation

Posts: a national asset in need of transformation

27.03.2025 — My journey with the postal world began when I was about six years old. I vividly remember accompanying my father to the local post office, where he would unlock a small box – one among many embedded in the wall. Sometimes, there were envelopes waiting inside, which felt almost magical; other times, the box was empty, and that was far less exciting.