IGF 2023 Open Forum #160 The Postal Network: A Vehicle of Digital Inclusion

The postal sector, with its extensive network of physical points of presence in even the remotest locations, is well-positioned to be an important enabler for an inclusive digital future, by bridging the digital and physical worlds. Post offices can become digital hubs to facilitate access to e-government, digital finance, and e-commerce services, promoting universal and affordable access to digital services, particularly in rural areas and marginalized communities and for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, the postal network can enhance the resilience of the digital infrastructure in case of natural or human-made disasters, as well as contribute to the deployment of the digital infrastructure by facilitating the co-location of passive infrastructure in postal facilities. To facilitate the materialization of these opportunities, the UPU launched the CONNECT.POST initiative to connect every post office to the Internet by 2030, in order to promote the meaningful digital inclusion of businesses and citizens in the communities that the post offices serve.

1) Fluent coordination between the online and the onsite moderators 2) Interactive and engaging session with active moderation both online and onsite 3) Use of social media, and interactive tools such as Mentimeter etc.