In an era defined by technological transformation and shifting economic landscapes, the challenge of ensuring equitable global development has never been greater. Trade, when facilitated effectively, can be a powerful tool to bridge divides and foster sustainable growth, but only if all countries – especially developing ones – can participate fully. Ahead of its 60th anniversary, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is leading the charge to make global trade more inclusive. In this episode of Voice Mail, we sit down with Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD’s Secretary-General, to explore how the organization is supporting developing countries in navigating the complexities of the digital economy and ensuring no one is left behind. Grynspan discusses how UNCTAD’s collaboration with partners like the UPU is helping to reduce barriers for small businesses and empower women entrepreneurs through initiatives like eTrade for Women. Grynspan is certain: even in the rapidly changing world, trade can remain a force for good, if we ensure that the weakest can also have a seat at the table.

How can the art of writing be kept alive in an era when all communication is done digitally? Once indispensable for distance communication, letter writing used to serve as an important educational tool that developed children’s cognitive and creative capacities, teaching them how to organize and articulate their thoughts. As a more humane and empathetic means of exchange, letters also used to facilitate international connections in spite of differences – something the world increasingly needs today and which is harder to attain through digital messaging only. Ahead of the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, the UPU partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to ask children from around the world about their vision of and hopes for the future through the UPU’s flagship International Letter-Writing Competition. Just a few weeks ahead of the deadline for submissions, the UPU sat with June Kunugi, Director of Public Partnerships at UNICEF, a professional journalist, and one of the competition’s jury members, to discuss how the initiative supports UNICEF’s mission to advocate for children’s rights. In this latest episode of Voice Mail, Kunugi highlights how UNICEF’s engagement in the competition will help increase opportunities for children in the most disadvantaged and remote communities, how to turn the risks of technology into new opportunities for youth’s engagement and empowerment, and how we should all work together to ensure that the voice of every child is pronounced and listened to.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 (World Economic Forum), not a single country has yet achieved gender equality. While some countries approach it, sharp disparities persist at the global level, making it imperative not only to accelerate overall progress, but also to help those lagging behind catch up. More than a decade ago, Australia took an important and exceptional step in this direction by creating a dedicated foreign service position to advocate for gender equality outside its borders. Considering gender equality as a crosscutting issue, Australia also takes an active stance in advancing the women’s empowerment agenda in various international fora, including the UPU. By putting forward a number of initiatives and innovations, including nominating a UPU Gender Equality Champion, the country is demonstrating its interest in discussing gender equality in the post, as well as its readiness to take the lead in making it happen. For its annual International Women’s Day special, Voice Mail has invited Stephanie Copus Campbell, Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, to talk about her wide-ranging portfolio and how the postal sector plays into it. In a conversation with Ian Kerr, she explains why, despite setbacks and challenges, fighting for gender equality will benefit all.

The evolution of cross-border communication has undoubtedly shaped the world as we know it today. The fast increase and diversification of communication flows, socioeconomic globalisation, and growing migration and mobility would hardly sustain without innovative political arrangements and new ways of international cooperation. In 1874, the newly founded Universal Postal Union not only harmonised these processes, making exchanges easier, cheaper and safer, but, together with the International Telegraph Union, stood at the origin of global multilateral governance. Throughout years, the UPU endured crises, wars, economic instability, health, climate, and other types of emergencies, while working to keep its original promise of facilitating communication between peoples in the face of a rapidly changing world. The upcoming UPU historians’ colloquium presents the first-ever opportunity for the postal and academic communities to come together to reflect on the global past of the UPU. Dr Léonard Laborie, Historian at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), UMR SIRICE, one of the colloquium’s co-organisers, discusses how and why the UPU emerged as a forerunner of global connectivity, how it shaped and was shaped by international politics, and why cooperation among postal operators will remain the key to the organisation’s lasting vitality.

Technology and integration are redefining the postal market. In quest of ways to diversify their services and remain competitive, posts, big and small, are forging new partnerships and adopting unconventional, high-tech solutions which help them generate new revenue streams and improve customer experience. In October 2023, the UPU brought together seasoned postal experts and senior executives within a new format of its World Leaders Forum to get a first-hand account of this new postal reality, the solutions that work and the challenges that remain. On the sidelines of the Forum, UPU Voice Mail host, Ian Kerr, spoke to postal CEOs and UPU Consultative Committee members about the future of logistics and how public-private collaboration can make it brighter for everyone. On this special podcast edition, Tawnee Steinke, Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at Zonos, identifies three main trends that are going to change cross-border logistics; Charles Brewer, CEO of Pos Malaysia, shares his experience of pioneering green technologies in the country and driving change in the broader market; and Mariella Buisson, CEO of Seychelles Postal Services, explains how small postal operators can use technology to become a one-stop shop for citizens.

In 2019, Austrian Post disrupted the centuries-old philatelic market with the issuance of the world’s first crypto stamps. With its unique credit card shape, particular unicorn design, and special security features, crypto stamp 1.0 was well-met by collectors, selling out within days and changing the world of philately forever. Its association with blockchain and vague connection to cryptocurrencies, notorious for their volatility, did not let the innovation escape controversy, especially when it comes to protecting and harmonising the newly-born and rapidly growing field of digital philately. Four years and numerous crypto stamp issues later, the UPU invited the team behind their creation – Patricia Lieberman, Head of Philately at Austrian Post, and Michael Dorner, CEO of a crypto stamp manufacturer and UPU Consultative Committee member, Stampfinity – to recount the story behind the production of the famous unicorn stamp and the challenges of introducing innovation to a highly traditional field.  We discuss the meticulous process of finding the right product to meet market needs, the intricate technology behind crypto stamps, changes in collector demographics, and the importance of collaboration and standards for successfully revitalising the postal industry.

In Saudi Arabia, a young and ambitious country strategically positioned at the intersection of three continents, the postal sector shares the dynamism, ambition, and boldness of the nation’s Vision 2030. In recent years, the country’s postal services have undergone profound transformations, including transferring the authority for the sector from the Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, allowing data to take centre stage in setting postal strategy, diversifying the post into healthcare, and supporting government services for improved quality of life. These strides do not only dramatically increase the postal value proposition to customers, making the post more relevant, but they also put Saudi Post in the spotlight as a regional leader and an interesting global success story. The post views seizing the opportunities of digital transformation, using technology in new and creative ways, and forging forward-looking partnerships as fundamental elements in the success of its new business model. Just a few days ahead of the historic UPU Extraordinary Congress in Riyadh, Ian Kerr spoke to H.E. Anef Abanomi, President of Saudi Post, about how the postal operator is turning into a touchpoint between government agencies, businesses and their customers, what digitalization has to do with it, and what hosting the global postal community means to the country.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) represents 185 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. In the era of digitalization, these border authorities find themselves in the epicentre of global e-commerce, influencing the country’s economic competitiveness, defining the ability of its small businesses to reach global markets, and protecting its citizens from illicit trade. With the level of national Customs development becoming the touchstone of overall socioeconomic performance, it is imperative to ensure that this development is speedy, harmonized and coordinated. This is where the WCO, with its mandate to build capacities and promote cooperation, comes in to fill in the gaps. A few days ahead of the WCO-UPU Global Conference 2023, dedicated to cross-border e-commerce, Ian Kerr spoke to Dr Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary-General, about the evolving role of Customs, the challenges and opportunities they have in common with the postal sector, the importance of trust for the smooth movement of goods across borders, and why cooperation, specifically with the Post, is in Customs’ DNA. 

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, discusses how meaningful connectivity can help bridge the digital divide. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), around 2.7 billion people – one-third of the global population – remained unconnected to the Internet in 2022. This persistent digital divide disproportionately affects women and girls, especially in rural areas and developing communities, leaving them outside of the rapidly growing digital economy. The ITU, a sister agency with which the UPU shares a long history of connecting people and a common goal of advancing universal digital inclusion, strives to use ICTs and technological innovations to transform people’s lives, including those of women. In line with the global theme of International Women’s Day 2023, the UPU invited Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General and the first woman to hold this post, to share her views on how digital technologies can open new opportunities for women and girls. She delved into how global digital partnerships, like Giga or connect.post, can help unlock this potential, and why transformative leadership is essential to bridge the digital gender gap and accelerate our progress towards a more equal, connected future.

According to UN Women, over the past decade, women’s exclusion from the digital sphere has cost low- and middle-income countries $1 trillion of potential GDP. As a traditional provider of postal social and digital services that accelerate national development, the Post can help and support women, especially in developing and least developed communities, to take full advantage of digital transformation. On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2023 celebrated under the global theme of innovation for gender equality, Ian Kerr spoke to Marjan Osvald, UPU Deputy Director General and the first UPU Gender Equality Champion. They discussed ways that Posts can lead change towards a more equal world, how the UPU and partners work to promote this leadership, and how small steps can make a big difference.

Illicit trade is hardly a new phenomenon. What is new, however, is its recent unprecedented growth spurred by globalization and the internationalization of trade. Counterfeits, smuggled tobacco and alcohol, unauthorized pharmaceuticals, pesticides, petroleum, and wildlife – the scope of illicit trade is enormous and, although each region experiences it differently, there are common vulnerabilities that make supply chains prone to such illegal exploitation. Identifying commonalities to develop a more holistic approach to eliminating illicit trade is the main goal of the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT), an independent, business-led initiative to secure the global supply chain and a new UPU postal security partner. In this episode of Voice Mail, recorded just one week before formalizing this new collaboration, Ian Kerr spoke to Jeffrey Hardy, TRACIT’s Director General, about the dangers illicit trade presents to postal customers and employees, the costs it incurs on postal infrastructure and the ways to avoid these risks through public-private partnerships and capacity building.

Road safety is crucial to postal organisations. With millions of postal workers using the roads daily, raising awareness of road traffic rules and ensuring the safety of equipment and infrastructure is vital for Posts if they are to operate smoothly and efficiently. However, the quality of broader road traffic infrastructure and policies is highly dependent on the level of socioeconomic development and varies drastically across regions. While 1.3 million people perish on the roads every year, the majority of them being youth, road safety remains a largely underinvested area in more and less developed communities alike. Established in 2018, the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) helps bridge these gaps in road safety finance by working with different actors to mobilise the resources needed to support high-impact projects. In this episode of Voice Mail, Nneka Henry, Head of the Fund’s Secretariat, explains why investing in road safety is crucial, what the main challenges of securing road safety finance are, why partnerships are key to make a difference, and where Posts can step in to help meet the ambitious Vision Zero to end traffic-related fatalities. Finally, in the run-up to the International Day of Education on January 24, we talk about the importance of protecting the most vulnerable road users, children.

AfDB Climate and Environment Finance Manager Gareth Phillips discusses the state of climate finance in Africa and means of building the continent’s resilience to climate shocks, highlighting the widest gaps and the most promising solutions. COP27, the major global climate change forum convened annually by the United Nations, ended on 18 November 2022, leaving a mixed feeling of satisfaction and disappointment among its diverse participants. An immense challenge for negotiators, for international climate finance bodies like the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Conference is a unique opportunity to network and secure the vital funds needed to save livelihoods and advance a carbon-neutral, climate-resilient future. Africa is the continent most in need of such support. With only 3.5-4% of total global climate finance coming to Africa – most of which is reserved for mitigation activities – there is more to be done to help African communities adapt to climate disruptions quickly and efficiently. From improving energy access, switching to renewables, managing waste and increasing recycling to establishing carbon-neutral infrastructure and building awareness of climate-friendly options and technologies, successful climate adaptation and mitigation require contributions from a wide network of actors, including the Post.

The UPU Consultative Committee is open to the private sector. In this episode, we discuss why this has happened, and we speak with some of the new private sector members of the Consultative Committee: Alexander Thern-Svanberg (Secretary, UPU Consultative Committee) discusses the reasoning behind opening the UPU Consultative Committee to the private sector How the Consultative Committee is organised Embracing a private sector perspective Egon Veermae, COO at Eurora Group, talks about technology and cross-border Solving the pain points of cross-border e-commerce How private sector members can contribute to the Consultative Committee and the postal world Andrii Shapovalov, co-founder at Stampsdaq, talks about Stampsdaq's evolving relationship with the UPU Capitalising on stamps' heritage with new technology, creating new revenue lines for postal operators Yuichiro Ishibashi, Deputy Vice President, International Business Development, Security and Automation Systems Division, Toshiba Understanding international standards for letters and parcels  

Tony Robinson, UKi CEO and founder of global postal event Parcel+Post Expo, discusses the role and importance of technology in the postal world: Launching publications in the postal, technology, and transport sectors Optical character recognition and letter sorting automation The genesis of Post Expo The transformation of posts from traditional businesses to a high-tech industry Innovation driving opportunities for the postal world Role of the postal sector within the broader transport industry The rise of online retailers such as Amazon, and penetration and improvement of internet access Emerging technologies that could shape the future of the postal sector Improving e-commerce parcel delivery Autonomous delivery vehicles Technology and sustainability Consumer purchasing trends and impact on the last mile Parcel+Post Expo 2022 Future cooperation with the UPU  

Dr Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director of the Division on Technology and Logistics (UNCTAD) discusses logistics, supply chain, and the role of the post in enabling cross-border trade: UNCTAD's mandate and how it carries out its role Customs automation with ASYCUDA Why some countries are currently benefiting from digital transformation, while others aren't Role of the logistics sector in stimulating digital transformation Impact of COVID-19 on supply chain and postal networks Importance of access to affordable internet access, especially in developing countries Industry 4.0 and global trade flows Using predictive AI to improve efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) partnership, including UPU and the Customs Declaration System. Leveraging eTrade for All to help small businesses flourish Role of technology in post-pandemic recovery Addressing disparities in digitalisation of trade, especially in the work of UNCTAD, UPU, and other multilateral agencies The emerging data divide between developing nations and major multinational platforms  

Pedro de Vasconcelos, Manager of the Financing Facility for Remittances at the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), discusses the importance of international remittances to the global economy, as well as opportunities for the postal network. We discuss: Impact of remittances and migrant investments on the socioeconomic development of nations The scale of these remittance contributions globally - hint: it's in the billions! Continuing growth in this financial flow How IFAD works to financially include migrants, small business and other underserved populations via the Financing Facility for Remittances How remittances are put to work in recipient communities Financial literacy and financial inclusion, leading to financial resilience The challenges in ensuring affordable, accessible remittances for migrants, including factors that exclude them from the formal financial system Competition in financial remittances Concerns about security of global remittances, including crime, money laundering, and terrorism financing Remittances that kept communities going, even during the pandemic How the postal network helps and could help provide inclusive finance and remittances Impact of armed conflict on global remittances How posts can maximise their involvement and the positive impact of being part of a global remittance network The aims of the International Day of Family Remittances Remittances can serve the post - more than what many currently perceive  

Rodney Taylor, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, discusses digital transformation and the potential role of the post: The emotion of international mail Innovation in telecommunications and IT in Barbados Digital transformation's critical role in supporting peoples and governments Delivering government services digitally The CTU's role and mandate, from establishment by CARICOM through to understanding the "metaverse" Supporting CARICOM single market and economy through telecommunications Key areas of digital transformation the CTU is working on, including accessing government services online Opportunities for collaboration with postal operators in digital transformation How the pandemic fuelled innovation and development in digital transformation, and partnerships with the post Scope for working with other international organisations Trends in regional e-commerce Inclusion of all social groups in digital transformation .post top level domain and cyber security Raising awareness of cyber crime and cyber security, and including provisions for cyber crime and data protection in legislation International and cross-sector cooperation in internet and data governance  

Anja Klug, Head of the Office for Switzerland and Liechtenstein at the UNHCR - the UN refugee agency, discusses the UNHCR's role and the role of postal networks. We discuss:  What the UNHCR does, and how it differs from other humanitarian organisations Impact of the conflict in Ukraine on refugees UNHCR support for refugees UNHCR Ukraine partnering with Ukrainian postal operator Ukposhta Cooperation with postal operators to offer services for internally displaced persons Leveraging post offices' position in the centre of communities to facilitate support services for refugees and internally displaced persons Offering support to vulnerable and young refugees

Pierangela Sierra, founder and CEO of online shopping and delivery platform Tipti, and an e-trade women's advocate, joins us to discuss e-commerce, growth and opportunities, and encouraging women entrepreneurs:  Using the mail to keep in touch What Tipti is, and how it was created Mobile and internet adoption in Ecuador The pandemic's impact on online grocery Future growth in e-commerce in Ecuador and Latin America The role of the post in encouraging e-commerce Environmental impact of e-commerce delivery Gender equality and forging a career in Latin America Startups and women Female representation in Tipti, and empowering women How UNCTAD helps women and entrepreneurs  

Dr Armani Abou-Zeid, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, on the importance of the post in creating infrastructure. We cover: The importance of postal services in Africa, including access to financial services, government services, and e-commerce The ubiquity of the post office network Access to electricity and the internet, and the challenges of postal development COVID's boost for digitalisation and e-commerce in Africa The role posts can play in achieving AU Agenda 20643 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development African Continental Free Trade Area Cybersecurity and trust, including data protection and child online safety Achieving zero emissions - the opportunities and challenges present in African nations Future of the postal sector in Africa, and conversations with national postal regulators Representation and participation of women in the postal and logistics sectors

Sophie Gligorievic, Head of Logistics Division at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), joins us to talk about humanitarian logistics and supply chain: Are there differences between the humanitarian supply chain and the commercial supply chain? Increased pressure on supply chain, including supply chain transparency and diversity ERP and supply chain Digital transformation and logistics Cooperation with international and local organisations How ICRC and humanitarian organisations leverage local postal networks to deliver aid Partnerships during the pandemic Integrating sustainability into the supply chain and the quest for decarbonisation Posts collaborating with the ICRC

Outgoing UPU Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz reflects on his time at the UPU and shares some pointers for the future of the postal sector: Corporatisation of Swiss Post Moving from Swiss Post's international bureau to the UPU Reflections on the UPU's strengths Opening up the UPU How the UPU can add value to the postal sector The UPU's role in arbitration Index for Postal Development The evolution of the index How the index can help developing nations formulate their postal strategy Adapting business models Banking and financial services and logistics How key stakeholders can build postal strategy Advice for the next generation of postal leaders The importance of multilateralism A message for the new leadership team at the UPU  

USPIS Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale discusses the unique role of the US Postal Inspection Service and the contribution it makes to the postal world: The US Postal Inspection Service's mandate How the USPIS fits in with other US law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and DEA, as well as international agencies such as Europol How the USPIS's relationship with the US Postal Service makes it unique The importance of postal security to the USPS, its customers, and the general public The world's dependence on the postal network Protecting postal people and facilities USPIS's various functional groups Major trends in postal-related crimes and threats, including employee safety, suspicious items in the mail, illegal substances in the mail, and mail fraud Borderless crime and cyber security - and the digitalisation of postal services The importance of educating the public about fraud The UPU Postal Security Group's role and mission How postal operators can advance their levels of security How citizens can help maintain the security of the mail system Visit the UPU website for more information on the Postal Security Group.

In this special edition of Voice Mail, we have three perspectives on digital transformation, data, and the postal world.   First, UPU Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz joins us to discuss: UPU and digital transformation Global expectations in advance electronic data Partnerships with IATA and WCO for cross-border The growing importance of parcels to the global postal network Increasing collaboration between the postal network and other elements of the parcels world Then UPU Consultative Committee Chair Walter Trezek covers: Major outcomes from recent UPU Congress The importance of the UPU digital strategy Cross-border parcel volumes in the postal network What EAD/AED means for consumers, authorities, and postal operators UPU's role in promoting green objectives Opening up the UPU, its products, and its services Finally, David Avsec from the UPU Postal Technology Centre explains aspects of Advance Electronic Data (EAD/AED): Why EAD is important and what it is Improving compliance Capturing quality data  

Stephan Sicars, Managing Director at the Directorate for Environment and Energy, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, joins us in this episode for an expert analysis of the circular economy, including: What does "circular economy" mean? How circular economy principles can help the environment. The costs and accessibility of the circular economy Best practices in circular economy The connection between the circular economy and peace Impact of the pandemic the role of the circular economy in post-COVID recovery and building resilient economies Global trade and supply chains What can the postal sector and individual postal operators do to support the shift towards circular economy?

Isaac Gnamba-Yao, CEO of La Poste Côte d'Ivoire, joins us in this episode of Voice Mail to discuss: Preparations for the 27th Universal Postal Congress Major challenges facing La Poste Côte d'Ivoire and postal operators in the region Postal innovations at La Poste Côte d'Ivoire Appealing to the digital generation Role of the post in socio-economic development Building e-commerce The importance of partnerships for postal operators Impact of the pandemic on La Poste Côte d'Ivoire Post office of the future

Dr Cheryl Ganz, former curator of Philately at the Smithsonian and member of the USPS Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, joins us in this episode of Voice Mail to discuss: How a childhood interest in collecting led to Cheryl becoming a stamp collector The role of a postal museum Making postal museums not just for philatelists but also for the general public Museums as a window into global cultures How Cheryl came to be Chief Curator Philately at the Smithsonian The renewal of the philatelic exhibit - making it into an exciting gallery Stamps and storytelling Creating a stamp exhibit that will engage with digital natives How philately has responded digitally to the pandemic Online visitors to the Smithsonian Future of the postage stamp Postage stamps and national identity and heritage Postmarking of stamps - importance of a proper cancellation Changes to postage stamps over the years Hunting for buried treasure - stamps hidden around the house  

Thomas Ellmann, VP Life Sciences and Healthcare at DHL, is our guest for the first episode of Voice Mail. We discuss how DHL is supporting distribution of the COVID vaccine around the world. What DHL's Customer Solutions and Innovations Group does Sourcing and distributing PPE (personal protective equipment) material, including masks and gloves, for governments and other customers Distributing vaccines as well as other products needed to administer vaccines to patients Technology and infrastructure developed specifically for distributing the coronavirus vaccine, including temperature control at very low temperatures Safety issues of carrying vaccines at very low temperature, including air cargo transport of dry ice Air freight capacity Working with other air cargo carriers as well as using DHL's own aircraft fleet Understanding the magnitude of the logistics effort in distributing COVID vaccine doses around the world Monitoring temperature during transit Distributing the vaccine to remote areas and countries with less developed infrastructure DHL and COVAX DHL partnering with other non-profits Local storage and distribution of vaccines Lessons learned from the vaccine roll-out