The Regional Development Plan (RDP) for Africa for the 2026–2029 cycle reflects detailed analyses of the region’s current situation and the lessons learned from the Abidjan cycle. It provides both an overview of the global and regional postal environment, together with a targeted set of development cooperation actions tailored to the needs of the region.
The trajectory of postal sector development differs markedly between regions, revealing disparities that must be addressed through targeted cooperation. Africa is a prime example of postal decoupling: while GDP has climbed steadily over the past 20 years, postal revenue has shrunk by an average of 2.53% per year. Key constraints include underinvestment in infrastructure, low mail and parcel volumes, patchy regulation, and slow uptake of electronic advance data (EAD) and digital standards. In many countries, universal service obligations (USOs) are still to be defined, and access to international funding remains limited.
The trajectory of postal sector development differs markedly between regions, revealing disparities that must be addressed through targeted cooperation. Africa is a prime example of postal decoupling: while GDP has climbed steadily over the past 20 years, postal revenue has shrunk by an average of 2.53% per year. Key constraints include underinvestment in infrastructure, low mail and parcel volumes, patchy regulation, and slow uptake of electronic advance data (EAD) and digital standards. In many countries, universal service obligations (USOs) are still to be defined, and access to international funding remains limited.
