Affiliate in Focus: Slovene Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities

Age-friendly Practice in Focus: The International Federation on Ageing’s (IFA) Global Conferences on Ageing

Age-friendly environments has been a constant theme of IFA’s Global Conferences on Ageing, which aim to bring global perspectives and ideas on healthy ageing together to drive further change. The 16th edition held in Bangkok, Thailand from 27–30 June was no different.

Two workshops on how accelerating the age-friendly movement can deliver impact during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing were organised by WHO with the support of Global Network members and the IFA, a Network affiliate. 

Together, we spoke to conference attendees about the importance of developing national age-friendly programmes and what we can learn from the fantastic work being done in low- and middle-income contexts. 

Summaries from the sessions are coming soon on Age-friendly World. In the meantime, check out the Global Network in action at the conference below!

More activities from the Global Network

The Emirate of Sharjah

Western Australia: Launching a new government strategy for older people

The Western Australian Government (WA), a Global Network affiliate, has launched its first State Seniors Strategy. The Strategy was developed through extensive consultation including with older people and is a 10-year whole of Government strategy to support older Western Australians.

The Strategy focuses on ensuring that older people in WA:

• Thrive physically, mentally and spiritually;
• Live in safe and age-friendly communities;
• Stay connected and engaged; and
• Have views that are heard.

The Strategy is accompanied by a five-year Action Plan (2023-2027) that sets out a range of actions including tackling ageism. Congratulations to WA for continuing to lead on actions to become more age-friendly during this UN Decade of Healthy Ageing!

Réseau francophone des villes amies des aînés (RFVAA): International exchange in Paris on 5–6 December

The RFVAA, a Global Network affiliate, is hosting their annual meeting on 5–6 December 2023 in Paris with a focus on international exchanges. 

The exchange will celebrate inspiring local initiatives from around the world as well as zoom in on the development and implementation of national and sub-national age-friendly cities and community programmes. We’re also excited to share that the next in-person meeting of Global Network affiliates will happen at the margins of this exchange!

This event will be a great opportunity to celebrate the diverse and meaningful work done by the Global Network over the last year, and to look forward to 2024 with renewed energy and commitment. Stay tuned on ways to contribute to and benefit from the conversations!

Updates from the Network Secretariat

Contribute to the WHO guide and toolkit on developing national age-friendly programmes

Discussing challenges and opportunities for age-friendly public spaces in African cities

To accelerate the growth of the global age-friendly movement, the WHO Secretariat are placing strong emphasis on how we can celebrate and support the work being done in low- and middle-income contexts.

The WHO Secretariat participated in a discussion hosted by the Africa Community of Practice of the International Society for Urban Health around age-friendly public spaces in African cities.

At the discussion, we learned about a diverse range of innovative practices already happening in African cities to create age-friendly environments. We’re looking forward to building on these conversations to welcome the first African member of the Global Network very soon.

Age-Friendly Cities and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 – A Template for Everyone

Age-friendly cities took the spotlight at a UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development side event on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

The online event brought together global leaders to discuss how age-friendly cities are a strong investment towards delivering on the SDGs. The event was sponsored by the Stakeholder Group on Ageing and organised by Grey Panthers New York City. At the event, the WHO Secretariat spoke about the wide-ranging work being done by the Global Network in this area.

The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is aligned with the last 10 years of the SDGs because Member States recognised that we can’t deliver on their promises without fostering healthy ageing – including through developing age-friendly environments. Global Network members, thank you for being a shining example of how local action advances global agendas!

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.