28 TH ORDINARY SESSION OF PAPU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL Cairo, 6-7 June 2 009

1. AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS AND 2008 CAIRO DECLARATIONS ENDORSED BY AU EXCUTIVE COUNCIL 28TH ORDINARY SESSION OF PAPU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL Cairo, 6-7 June 2009

2. 1-THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION • To raise the importance and the content of the Declaration • To give the implementation statusat the AUC level • To obtaincomments

3. 2-Contents • The Postal Project of the African Union: content and foundations • The African Postal Sector Key problemsidentified by the AUC Study • The recommendations endorsed by the Executive Council • The status of implementation by AUC • The way forward

4. 3-The Postal Project of the African Union • Foundations: • One Vision of the African Union: Build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, an Africa driven and managed by its own citizen and representing a dynamic force in the international arena • A greater ambition: Economic and social integration of the continent necessitating the development of physical links so as to facilitate free movement of people, information as well as goods • Objective: To increase the role of the Postal Sector in the realisation of development programmes in the Continent • Referenceframework: Harmonization of standards, policies, legislations in the activities of various sectors

5. 3-The Postal Project of the African Union • Results: • A relevant evaluation diagnostic of Postal policies, legislations and regulations and status of public operators and ongoing reforms • Several findings and recommendations • Avail examples of reform, models of policies and regulatory and matrix of implementation • The conclusions of the Study have been adopted by the second Conference of African Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies (CAM-CIT) • CAM-CIT Decisions have been endorsed by the Executive Council of the African Union (Decision EX.CL/Dec.434 (XIII))

6. 4-The African Postal Sector Key Problemsidentified by the AUC Study • The P.O penetration level is low and the infrastructure is outdated • The status of postal administrations are at different levels • No clear policy to guide the development of the sector • The Postal Universal Service (content, scope, cost and compensation , mechanism) is not clearly defined • Any postal regulations • Shortage of capital for expansion and modernization • Lack of professional staff and adequate structure • Shortcomings in the provision of adequate quality of service • Lack of adapted training

7. 5- Objectives for the development of the sector • Implementation of an in-depth reform of the Postal Sector • Development of the Public Postal Operator • Development and improvement of Postal network and the quality of service • Use of the Information and Communication technologies • Review and strengthening of PAPU

8. 6- The key Recommendations • In order to implement an in-depth reform of the Postal Sector • Governments commitment right from the beginning of the postal sector reform process; • Adoption of a flexible postal sector policy to guide postal sector reform and modernization; • Putting the development of the postal services as a priority in National Development Plans • Separation of the postal enterprise from Government, which does not mean a total loss of control under the provision of the law

9. 6- The key Recommendations • In order to implement an in-depth reform of the Postal Sector • Encouraging a gradual liberalisation and competition governed by appropriate policy, legislation and regulatory framework to ensure fair play and provision of Universal Postal Service; • A strong political will and approval by civil society geared to reform and modernize the postal sector; • A full management autonomous of the public postal enterprise; • The establishment of an attractive structure for the management of the public postal enterprise.

10. 6- The key Recommendations • For the development of the Public Postal Operator • Provision of full management autonomy of the public postal enterprise (P.P.E); • Establishment of an attractive structure for management of P.P.E which set quantitative performance indicators, objective measurement systems, relevant performance targets and structural accountability; • Recapitalization of the public postal operator and the ability to have long term financial planning.

11. 6- The key Recommendations • To develop and improve Postal network and the quality of service •  Insurance for development and modernization of postal networks and services; •  Establishment of a well-defined universal service obligation and the implementation of its financing mechanism; • commercialization of the public postal enterprise which implies introduction of commercial objectives and practices into management and operations and establishing business culture; • Possibility for customers to be given forum to exercise pressure on the management of the postal operator(s) geared to provide high quality service as expressed by market situation;

12. 6- The key Recommendations • To develop and improve Postal network and the quality of service • put in place an effective regulation, which ensures a level playing field and protect customer interests; •  strengthen workers support and their participation in the reform process and management of the enterprise; •  the need for postal operators to significantly improve the organization of mail circulation and delivery for achievement of high standards; • improve and modernize the national addressing system to facilitate door-to-door delivery;

13. 6- The key Recommendations • For ICT use • Governments insurance that appropriate national “ICT” infrastructures are in place, for efficient delivery of services and to bridge the digital divide; • introduction and expansion of an efficient electronic money transfer service to serve migrant populations who contribute significantly to their national economies; • Introduction ICT in the processes and operations such as conveyance and delivery (track and trace) • Development of e-commerce; • Development of e-learning

14. 6- The key Recommendations • In the framework of PAPU strengthening • Proposition of an appropriate structure • Development of capacity building of research • Accession of all countries to PAPU Convention • Provision of adequate resources through the payment of the contributions, alternative funding,…

15. 7- Mayor activities to carry out for the development of the sector • Organization of Workshop for stakeholders • Organization of CIT Ministerial Conference • Definition of Actions to be implemented • Dissemination of the Decision • Financial resources mobilization

16. 8-The Decision of the Excecutive Council of the AU The Executive Council • TOOK NOTE of the Report of the 2nd Session of the CAM CIT • ENDORSED (…) the Strategic Orientation and Action Plan for the Development of Postal Services in Africa; • URGED Member States to (…) the implementation of the Strategic Orientation and Action Plan for the Development of Postal Services in Africa • REQUESTED the Commission to disseminate (…) the Strategic Orientation and Action Plan for the Development of Postal Services in Africa to all Member States and other key stakeholders as well as facilitate their application

17. 8-The Decision of the Executive Council of the AU (EX.CL/434 (XIII) The Executive Council • APPEALED to the UNECA, the AfDB, the ITU, the World Bank, the European Union (EU), and relevant development partners to support the implementation of (…) the Strategies and Action Plans for the Development of the Postal • FURTHER REQUESTS the Commission, in collaboration with the RECs, specialized institutions, Member States and other stakeholders to take the necessary measures to speed up the implementation of (…) the Strategies and Action Plans for the development of a Postal Sector in Africa (…) with a view to developing a strong, integrated and viable Communications sector in the Continent

18. 8- Status of Implementation of the Decision Dec. EX.CL 434 (XIII) by AUC • Organized CIT Ministerial Conference • Disseminated documents • Advocacy strengthen PAPU: call for 8 countries to accede to PAPU Convention, request for payment of outside contribution and provision of financial assistance • Follow up on the implementation of the Declaration by Member States is in progress • Draft Action plan to be submitted to the Bureau of CIT Conference

19. 8- Status of Implementation of the Decision Dec. EX.CL 434 (XIII) by AUC • Proposed a strategic plan for the development of the postal sector • Participation in Regional development plan with UPU, PAPU and REC • Discussions with UPU for the elaboration of a master plan • Submitted projects to partners for funding

20. 8- Way forward • Diligent reaction of countries in the progress of the reform in Africa in their respective level • PAPU support on following up the implementation of the Decisions on the ground • Validation of the Action Plan by the CIT Bureau • Adoption of the strategic plan by HoSG • Decisions of the HoSG January 2010 Summit on ICT including Postal Sector

21. 9-CONCLUSION • Almost all the recommendations can be implemented without special resources. Only the will is requested. • Solidarity between member states can contribute to a better implementation • Therefore we are calling for the commitment of all and each

22. Thank you