event

Side Events 27th Universal Postal Congress

27th Universal Postal Congress – Side Event Programme

Aug
09

Monday, 9 August to Friday, 27 August 2021
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

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Wednesday, 11 August, 12.30–13.15 [1] Big data, IQRS and future innovations
 
The event will focus on the UPU’s use of big data for statistics, production monitoring, and quality of service purposes (Integrated Quality Reporting System – IQRS). Future innovations and potential for the use of big data for operational purposes (e.g. electronic advance data check and API vs. traditional EDI) and postal security will also be covered.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Lati Matata, Director, UPU Postal Technology Centre
  • David Avsec, Coordinator, Account Relations and Product Management, UPU Postal Technology Centre
 
Room: Salle des fêtes
 
Thursday, 12 August, 12.15–13.00 Postal payment technologies and future innovations
 
The session will provide general information on the family of IT services for postal payments, and then present future plans, building on the UPU Interconnectivity Platform, cloud services, and integration of third-party software solutions (e.g. for compliance and mobile payments).
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Lati Matata, Director, UPU Postal Technology Centre
  • David Avsec, Coordinator, Account Relations and Product Management, UPU Postal Technology Centre
  • Sergey Dukelskiy, Coordinator, Financial Services and Financial Inclusion, UPU (TBC)
  • Alexandre Rodrigues, Programme Manager, Postal Financial Services, UPU (TBC)
 
Room: Salle des Fêtes 
 
Friday, 13 August, 17.00–17.30 UPU security certification ceremony 
 
This event will recognize those countries that have achieved UPU S58/S59 security certification, with the associated certificates presented by the UPU Director General and the representative of the Postal Security Group (PSG). The ceremony aims to highlight the importance of, and promote the adoption of, minimum mandatory security standards by Posts.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Bishar A. Hussein, Director General, UPU
  • Peter Chandler, USPS Representative of the Postal Security Group (PSG)
 
Room: The Auditorium
 
Monday, 16 August, 13.00–13.45
Posts and health services: relevance and opportunities
 
The session aims to address the role of Posts in the health space, and how the UPU could support that role. In the context of the pandemic, the value proposition of Posts and the perception of their role among governments and partners have changed, with many Posts involved in the provision of health services and products.
 
The event will promote a shared understanding of the opportunities for postal services to diversify in the health sector, consider a possible “health agenda” for the UPU, and stimulate the creation of a postal community with a shared interest in health issues.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Olivier Boussard, Coordinator, Resource Mobilization and Stakeholder Engagement, UPU (moderator)
  • Rick Schadelbauer, Research Specialist, Office of the Inspector General, United States Postal Service
  • Marcela Maron, Director of Postal Regulation, Argentina
  • Jean-Paul Forceville, Director of European and International Relations, La Poste Group (France), Chair, PostEurop
 
Room:Salle des Fêtes
Note: Interpretation: English, French and Spanish
 
Monday, 16 August, 15.30–16.00
(TBC)

Celebrating the Quality of Service Fund – 20 years and counting!
 
The UPU Director General will launch a special publication to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Quality of Service Fund. This publication will highlight and promote QSF success stories, as well as raising awareness of the Fund’s role as an integrated tool and funding platform to support projects that contribute to quality of service improvement and strengthen the UPU global network. The future development of the QSF Common Fund will ensure a sustainable funding stream that benefits the entire UPU community.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Bishar A. Hussein, UPU Director General
  • Pascal Clivaz, UPU Deputy Director General
  • Michaela George, Chair of the QSF Board
Room: "Garden (near the swimming pool) - in-person only"
 
Tuesday, 17 August, 13.00–13.45
CDS and DPS and future innovations
 
The session will focus on UPU technologies for electronic advance data (EAD) compliance, and will include a general presentation of the CDS (Customs Declaration System) software and mobile app. The second part will explore upcoming innovations with the DPS (Domestic Postal System) application, and integration of third-party software solutions to provide better quality data for EAD.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Lati Matata, Director, UPU Postal Technology Centre
  • David Avsec, Coordinator, Account Relations and Product Management, UPU Postal Technology Centre
 
Room: Salle des fêtes
 
Wednesday, 18 August, 13.00–13.45
 

Innovations in digital financial services for Posts
 
In this interactive session, UPU experts, designated operators and sector stakeholders will highlight and discuss findings from a new study that could guide and benefit DOs in their innovation journey towards providing market-relevant digital financial services (DFS). The seminar should benefit DOs and regulators at all levels of financial services maturity – whether they are currently strategizing DFS, scaling up existing solutions, or have mature DFS capability and need to remain market-relevant.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation and Markets, UPU
  • Saleh Khan, Programme Manager, Financial Inclusion, UPU
  • Justus Njeru, Senior Manager, Private Sector Development, MicroSave Consulting
  • Sergey Dukelskiy, Coordinator, Postal Financial Services and Financial Inclusion, UPU (panel moderator)
  • Nermin Hassan, General Manager of Quality Control, Egypt Post
  • Juliet Ongwae, DFS Specialist, MicroSave Consulting 
  • Amina Tirana, Equity and Inclusion Fellow, Visa Economic Empowerment Institute 
 
Room: Salle des fêtes
Interpretation: English, French
 
Thursday, 19  August, 13.00–13.45
 

Cybersecurity and .POST
 
COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital in postal services, while cybercrime worldwide is on the increase. In this session, cybersecurity experts will explain how the postal sector can benefit from .POST cybersecurity policies and tools. Also certificates will be awarded to experts who completed the 2021 .POST Cybersecurity Bootcamp.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Paul Donohoe, Programme Manager, Digital Economy and Trade, UPU (moderator)
  • Massimiliano Aschi, Senior Cybersecurity Expert, Poste Italiane
  • Oussema Rouatbi, Director of Digital Transformation, La Poste Tunisienne
  • Lati Matata, Director, UPU Postal Technology Centre 
Room: Salle des fêtes
Interpretation: English, French
Tuesday, 24
August,

13.00-13.45

Partnerships for digital innovation through .POST
 
Posts rely on partnerships with startups and other companies to access new skills and resources to innovate. .POST is the UPU’s innovation group driving these partnerships to accelerate digital platform development.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • Massimiliano Aschi, .POST Group Chair
  • Oussema Rouatbi, Director of Digital Transformation, La Poste Tunisienne, DPG Vice-Chair
  • Andrii Shapovalov, CEO, STAMPSDAQ
  • Santosh Gopal, CEO, Ship2MyId
  • Paul Donohoe, Programme Manager, Digital Economy and Trade, UPU (moderation)
 
Room: Salle des fêtes
Interpretation: English, French

 
Friday, 27 August
9:30 - 10:00 am

50th International Letter-Writing Competition – award ceremony
 
This year, the UPU is proud to be running its 50th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People.  All of our participating member countries have consistently encouraged youngsters to develop their literacy skills and focus on a particular subject. The competition is an excellent means of promoting literacy among young people, and contributes to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 
As we continue to be profoundly affected by the virus, how have young people in particular felt about the momentous changes of the past 18 months? This year's theme sets out to explore their experiences as we ask them to "write a letter to a family member about your experience with COVID-19". The winning letter will be announced on the final day of the 27th Universal Postal Congress.
 
Moderator and speakers:
  • David Dadge, Programme Manager, Communication and Events, UPU (moderator)
  • Bishar A. Hussein, UPU Director General
  • Pascal Clivaz, UPU Deputy Director General
 
Room: the Auditorium
 
 
[1] All times UTC