The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is a point of global connection of experts and expertise in the field of ageing and achieves this through the development of national, regional and international information platforms that help to influence and shape effective age-related policy.

Through its growing global reach via a large membership base and governmental network the IFA is uniquely placed to view the social and economic consequences of population ageing in the context of both its opportunities and challenges including financial protection, healthy ageing, age-friendly cities, health and social system change, labour market forces and the care continuum.

The IFA has been a proud supporter of the age-friendly programme since its inception and is now partnering with WHO to lend its unique expertise in order to help ensure that Age Friendly World is an all-encompassing resource for all things related to age-friendliness and a useful community to connect all those across the world undertaking age-friendly initiatives. The IFA, as a non-State actor in official relations with WHO, also provides direct support to the WHO Secretariat of the Global Network, building on their outstanding knowledge and expertise.

IFA in collaboration with the WHO is also proud to have developed a new initiative under the Mentor AFE Program entitled: The Age-Friendly Environments (AFE) ECHO, a multi-session learning cycle, developed and guided by the needs of the global community and aligned to approaches and guidance from WHO on Age-friendly cities and communities.

The WHO and IFA were thrilled to welcome over 380 registrants from 79 countries across all WHO regions to the second English edition of the AFE ECHO programme. The AFE ECHO initiative represents the first time in which the Project ECHO model has been used to provide mentorship in the context of age-friendly environments.