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

Time
Thursday, 12th October, 2023 (02:30 UTC) - Thursday, 12th October, 2023 (04:00 UTC)
Room
WS 7 – Room K
Issue(s)

Affordable Access
Skills Building for Basic and Advanced Technologies (Meaningful Access)

Round Table - 90 Min

Description

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.

Organizers

🔒Universal Postal Union
Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (Moderator) Tracy Hackshaw, Chef de Projets, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (co-Moderator)

Speakers

Paul Donohoe, Digital Policies and Trade Coordinator, Universal Postal Union, Asia Pacific Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, Latin America & Caribbean (Online) Tracy Hackshaw, Chef de Projets, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Latin America & Caribbean Representatives from the wider Postal Sector (to be confirmed closer to the IGF 2023 date)

Onsite Moderator

Tracy Hackshaw, Chef de Projets, .POST, Universal Postal Union, Latin America & Caribbean

Online Moderator

Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (Moderator)

Rapporteur

Juan Moroni, Digital Inclusion and Policy Expert, Universal Postal Union, Intergovernmental Organisation, United Nations (Moderator)

SDGs

1. No Poverty
5. Gender Equality
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
17. Partnerships for the Goals

Targets: The CONNECT.POST initiative is intended to be a key vehicle for inclusion, reducing inequalities, facilitating the deployment of digital infrastructures, and fostering the development of underserved communities, with a specific focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Women. This initiative is also designed to be a platform for resource mobilization and for collaboration to promote an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.