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Our first newsletter in 2025! It's been more than a few months now since the year has begun, but the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities has already been busy accelerating the growth of the age-friendly movement worldwide.

It's the perfect time for making progress. 2025–2026 is also the halfway point of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), which is an unparalleled opportunity to ensure that every country in the world not only has representation in the Global Network, but also has some form of age-friendly programme to support efforts in each country.

That's why in this quarter's newsletter, we want to highlight the role that sub-national governments and programmes play in making our world a better place to grow older. We frequently highlight cities and communities, as well as countries – but the Global Network is full of regions, city-regions, and everything in between, all working for age-friendliness around the world. And without them, the Global Network wouldn't be where it is today.

For example, did you know that our guide for national age-friendly programmes can be applied to sub-national programmes, too? Take this opportunity to revisit the guide – and explore how the WHO age-friendly framework can adapt to diverse needs and contexts!

Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities Secretariat
World Health Organization

Member in Focus: Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Age-friendly Practice in Focus: Recognition for the longest-living people in Dota, Costa Rica

As part of the celebration of Older People’s Month, the Municipality of Dota recognised the three oldest people in the three districts of the canton, valuing the wisdom and the work of older people and the importance of their life journeys.

This wonderful age-friendly practice from the Municipality of Dota reminds us that no matter what level of government is working to become more age-friendly, older people must always be at the centre of our efforts.

Affiliates' Space

The Centre for Ageing Better (United Kingdom) publishes the State of Ageing 2025 report

The Centre for Ageing Better (United Kingdom), a Global Network Affiliate, has published the 2025 State of Ageing Report.

Launched at the Age Friendly Future Summit hosted by Greater Manchester, this report paints a national picture of the older population in England, using a variety of national data sources. The report reveals millions more in England are living into their seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond, in good health, working for longer and supporting our communities through volunteering and caring.

However, the report also highlights that this positive picture of ageing is unobtainable for many, such as those who are living in poor housing, in poverty and poor health, and who are isolated from their communities and society. The report shows the impact of regional inequalities that determine the quality of people’s later life.

The International Federation on Ageing's 17th Global Conference on Ageing

The International Federation on Ageing is pleased to invite you to the 17th Global Conference on Ageing from 9-12 September 2025. Join global leaders, researchers, practitioners, and advocates in Cape Town, South Africa for this landmark event focusing on evidence-based policy and practice in ageing.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts is approaching! Share your research, innovations, and best practices with an international audience. The deadline for all abstract submissions is 30 April 2025.

The conference will also feature a Collaborative Age-friendly Summit: an opportunity to learn from global leaders, and participate in discussions and networking events toward expanding the Global Network. Register now for an opportunity to connect with peers around the world.

Kanagawa Prefecture supporting international knowledge exchange on age-friendly environments

Updates from the Network Secretariat

Share Your Age-Friendly Practices: Supporting Older People During Health Crises

Public health measures like physical distancing, handwashing, and mask-wearing are essential during health crises to reduce disease transmission. However, these actions can also increase social isolation, disrupt healthcare access, and create financial hardship – especially for older people.

Despite this, older people have often shown incredible leadership and resilience, organising community support, checking in on neighbours, distributing resources, and staying connected.
 
WHO wants to hear from you:

1. What is your city or community doing to mitigate the negative consequences of public health measures during epidemics or pandemics to protect older people?

2. What steps did your city or community take during COVID-19 to protect older people?

3. What actions were taken during other major outbreaks (e.g. Ebola, SARS, avian flu, Zika, H1N1, Mpox) that are relevant to your city or community?

Please help us develop new knowledge on how age-friendly cities and communities can help respond to health crises by submitting your relevant age-friendly practice.

This call for practices is part of the Age-Friendly Knowledge and Action Hubs initiative, which aims to bring evidence close to action to create impactful solutions.

Virtual Consultation: Help Shape the WHO European Strategy on Ageing – 4 June 2025

Join sub-national and local authorities across the WHO European Region for a 2-hour virtual consultation on 4 June (10:00–12:00 CEST) to help shape the forthcoming WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being (2026–2030).

Hosted in English and Russian, the session invites your insights to ensure the strategy reflects real-world priorities. This is a unique opportunity to influence a regional vision that promotes healthy ageing, dignity, and inclusion for all. 

New UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing: 'Unlocking the Potential of an Ageing Workforce'

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published its latest policy brief on ageing: 'Unlocking the Potential of an Ageing Workforce'.

This brief, which has been developed for the ECE region, contains insights relevant for cities and communities around the world looking to strengthen their work- and labour-related practices as part of the WHO age-friendly framework.

The policy brief addresses both the challenges of an ageing and potentially shrinking workforce and the opportunities in enhancing career options for older workers through recommending three key policy strategies: readying, retaining and re-engaging the workforce.

Age-friendly World is a World Health Organization website dedicated to promoting age-friendliness around the world. The World Health Organization Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) is a global coalition of cities and communities committed to becoming more age-friendly. 

Submit your news on Age-friendly World or get in touch with us at gnafcc@who.int.