SG PAPU Day message 18 January 2021

In keeping with a longstanding tradition since the inception of our Union, Africa's postal fraternity comes together on 18th January each year to celebrate PAPU Day, seizing a prime and unique opportunity to showcase the pivotal role as well as to highlight the challenges of the postal sector to both decision-makers and the general public.

While it is customary for the theme of each celebration to be adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference once every four years during its Ordinary Session, the Union's supreme body was unable to meet in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the light of this unforeseen development, the General Secretariat has proposed to celebrate this year's event under the theme: "The Post: Building resilience in times of crisis".

The choice of this theme is informed by the vital need for all postal sector stakeholders to enhance their agility and resilience in dealing with the health crisis currently plaguing our planet, with a view to building their preparedness and proactivity in responding to any similar crisis that may occur in the future. This year's edition will be commemorated with the organization of an online conference (in French and English via zoom application) on 18th January 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm GMT on the theme: "Remittances during the COVID-19 pandemic era and future prospects: Case of the African Post".

Participants will include representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), while two Designated Operators of PAPU Member States will share their COVID-19 era experiences in remittance service delivery.