Universal Postal Union (UPU)
1.From November 2024 to October 2025, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions, including in the context of the Pact for the Future implementation and/or the UN80 Initiative, that are related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions and provide their respective symbols and links.
At the 28th Universal Postal Congress in September 2025 in Dubai, UPU Members adopted the UPU Strategy 2026-2029 (Dubai cycle) , which sets the roadmap for an inclusive, sustainable postal sector aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future themes of integration, digitalisation, and leaving no one behind.
UPU’s governance bodies approved a broad mapping exercise in 2023 (reported in 2024) showing that 91 % of its 133 work-proposals align with SDG 17 and 87 % with SDG 9.
2.From November 2024 to October 2025, what actions have your entities taken to improve coordination among UN system entities across policy and normative activities as well as with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies with a view to increasing impact and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links.
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3. From November 2024 to October 2025, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or has been in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
Event Name | UPU Regional Strategy Forums (6 editions) |
Event Dates | Caribbean (3-4 June 2024), Africa (13-14 June 2024), Americas (3-4 September) , Arab (11-12 September), Europe and Central Asia (16-17 September), Asia-Pacific (25-26 September) |
Event Location (City, Country) | Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands), Africa (Arusha, Tanzania), Americas (Bogota, Colombia) , Arab (Doha, Qatar), Europe and Central Asia (Ankara, Turkey), Asia-Pacific (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
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Relevant SDGs | SDG 17 |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The UPU Regional Strategy Forums discussed and provided input to shape the UPU future strategy 2026-2029, including objectives related to contributing towards achievement of the SDGs. As of September 2025, the UPU Strategy 2026-2029 (Dubai cycle) has been approved and contains clear references to achievement of the SDGs. |
Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name | Congress |
Event Dates | 8 to 19 September 2025 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Relevant SDGs | SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 13, SDG 16, SDG 17 |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | As the UPU’s supreme decision-making body, the Congress gathers 192 member countries to define the global postal strategy and regulatory framework for the next cycle. Its mandate supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable postal sector that underpins trade, digital and financial inclusion, and resilient infrastructure |
Website (if applicable) |
4. From November 2024 to October 2025, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work, guidance or reference materials, or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
Resource Name | The Postal Sector’s Role in the Digital Economy and Digital Society – A Global Panorama |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 9, 10, 11 |
Publishing entity/entities | Universal Postal Union (UPU), Berne, Switzerland |
Target audience | Government policy makers, designated operators, private sector, technical community |
Description (max 150 words) | Drawing on a global survey of 153 designated operators and case studies from over 20 countries, the report shows how Posts are successfully supporting governments in enabling inclusive digital transformation through a range of digital services, such as e-commerce, digital financial services, and e-government. The report showcases how governments, private partners and other stakeholders can leverage the postal network as part of a multi-channel service delivery approach — using digitally enabled post office counters and digitally upgraded postal infrastructure to make essential services more inclusive and accessible to all. The report was developed with the goal of serving as an evidence-based decision-making tool for governments, designated operators, and partners.
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Language(s) | English |
Website or link (if applicable) |
Resource Name | Sustainable Development Goals Report – Assessing the alignment of the UPU strategy for 2021–2025 with the UN SDGs
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goal 17 |
Publishing entity/entities | Universal Postal Union (UPU), Berne, Switzerland |
Target audience | Top levels of governments, regulators and designated postal operators |
Description (max 150 words) | The UPU conducted a comprehensive mapping exercise in 2023 and published in 2024 to assess the alignment of its strategies and financial commitments with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This document outlines the meticulous process undertaken, including validation, merging of mapping data with the UPU budget, and insightful outcomes.
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Language(s) | English |
Website or link (if applicable) |
5. What collective efforts is your organization undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2026? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links.
Initiative/Partnership Name | Leveraging Postal Networks for Circular Electronics Management |
Partners (please list all partners) | International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), One Planet Network (UNEP), Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP), the WEEE Forum |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 9, 11, 12 |
Member States benefiting from it | All member countries |
Description (max 150 words) | The reverse logistics business offers Designated Operators (DOs) a unique opportunity to diversify their services and meet emerging demand in sustainable ways. By leveraging their extensive infrastructure and operational capabilities, DOs can position themselves as vital enablers in the reverse value chain—handling the collection, sorting, storage, and transport of used electronic products for upcycling, recycling, resale, and treatment. This initiative builds on the collaboration with ITU, WEEE Forum, Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP), and Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP). By bringing together postal operators, policymakers, and other circular economy players, it aims to foster an ecosystem that supports sustainable business models for the reverse value chain.
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6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2025 Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council. Please note any challenges foreseen and provide any relevant links.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is implementing the 2025 ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration through its forthcoming UPU Strategy 2026-2029 (Dubai cycle), which aims to build “a society that is interconnected, inclusive and sustainable, empowered by a seamless, innovative postal network.” The strategy is anchored in three strategic goals: (1) To leverage the single postal territory through an effective rules-based system; (2) To strengthen the global postal ecosystem through innovations for facilitating communication and trade; and (3) To enable postal development through enhanced cooperation and regionalization.
Through these goals, the UPU promotes digital inclusion, low-carbon infrastructure, and financial services access, especially in underserved areas. It also encourages public–private partnerships and platforms to support inclusive e-commerce and climate-resilient delivery networks. The implementation of the strategy is ensured via the Dubai Business Plan, translating the goals into targeted actions aligned with the SDGs. In addition, the framework also proposes strategic indicators (SIs) to measure progress during the cycle and ensure results orientation at the strategic level. These SIs act as high-level KPIs for the evolutionary journey of the postal sector as a whole.
Challenges include disparities in infrastructure, digital readiness, and regulatory capacity across regions. However, the UPU’s results-based management framework and regional implementation roadmaps provide an adaptable structure to overcome these gaps.