Asia-Pacific

The region comprises the countries of Asia and The Pacific. The Development Cooperation implemented in the region is managed by a regional team at UPU IB headquarters and three regional offices located in Bangkok (Thailand), New Delhi (India) and Suva (Fiji).

In the first three years of this cycle, all activities were fully achieved as planned. A total of 140 activities from 35 development and cooperation projects were carried out. These activities included consultancy missions, training workshops, equipment procurement, and individual training activities related to the ORE project, the LDC action plan, postal financial services, and e-services and diversification. To date, the execution rate at the midpoint of the cycle is 76.4%. During this same period, all project performance indicators were satis¬factorily achieved, in accordance with the established objectives.

 As part of the ORE project, 11 on-site missions, seven group training workshops, and individual training sessions were organized in 2017–2019. A total of 27 DOs are in the process of making changes and improvements to their processes in order to optimize their e-commerce activities. The 27 DOs participating in the project all have a roadmap and a detailed action plan in place setting out the agreed-upon goals and the steps to follow to reach them by the end of 2020. It should be noted that several activities in the region within this project have been carried out in close cooperation with the Asian-Pacific Postal Union.

 Two training workshops on postal financial services and one on e-services and diversification were con¬ducted. Under the LDC action plan for 11 LDCs, procurement and individual training was offered at the Asian-Pacific Postal College.

 During the 2017–2019, some 491 postal officials from DOs of the region were trained at various thematic regional workshops organized within the framework of the RDP, with the participation of over 300 UPU fellowship-holders.

Regional projects are proceeding as scheduled and in accordance with the indicators established for each area. However, communication difficulties with countries, a low response rate, and the delayed reactions of beneficiary countries continue to be major obstacles to the effectiveness of technical assistance in the region and negatively affect the impact of regional activities.

The regional development plan (RDP) is an effective and homogeneous tool for deploying UPU actions in the field, based on two fundamental principles:

• The integration of all cooperation activities within the International Bureau. The DCDEV acts as an interface between the various International Bureau programmes and developing countries requiring assistance;
• Regionalization, in order to meet the specific needs of each region. The UPU creates synergies with regional players, and strengthens and diversifies cooperation mechanisms in the field.

The RDP provides a shared platform for all cooperation players whose objectives and priorities are the same, and who share available resources in the best possible way.

Methodology

The methodological approach for the RDP clearly defines the roles of the various players in the process of formulating and implementing the plan and projects in the various regions.