For us, these last few days before another year arrives is also a moment to reflect on the incredible things we've achieved together as a Global Network during this third year of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

For example, we've:

✅ Grown the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities to more than 1500 members across 51 countries

✅ Released the WHO guide and living toolkit for national programmes on age-friendly cities and communities – drawing on the extensive experience of our Global Network affiliates

✅ Supported countries around the world to develop or strengthen such a national programme – through the knowledge and practices shared by our Global Network members, and by holding workshops on the topic in nearly all WHO regions

... and so much more.

As 2023 comes to an end, we're not only continuously amazed by the strength of the Global Network in advancing global agendas through local action, but also inspired by the unique contributions we each make to the Global Network to make it greater than the sum of its parts.

As we welcome in the new year, we'd like to thank each and every one of you for your continued commitment – and look forward to another year of making the world a more age-friendly place: one city and community at a time.

Member in Focus: Guadalajara, Mexico

Age-friendly Practice in Focus: Safe Routes to Age in Place

Providing a diversity of safe transportation options brings communities together and enables people of all ages to access the services they need.

To see how local transport can be improved in a way that meets older people's needs and preferences, Age-Friendly Columbus and Franklin County conducted 'Safe Routes to Age in Place'. This was a pilot study that used an app to track older people's experiences of transport, which then formed the basis for designing potential solutions.

We've highlighted this practice as our Age-friendly Practice in Focus this quarter, because we're inspired by the innovative way older people were meaningfully engaged to drive change in their local communities.

Affiliates' Space

Welcoming a new affiliate to the Global Network: The Centre for an Age-friendly Norway – Norwegian National Network of Age-friendly Municipalities

Information sessions with age-friendly networks in Spain and in the francophone community

Global Network Affiliates meet up in-person at the Francophone Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities' international colloquium

Affiliates of the Global Network got together in Paris, France on 6 December – the first in-person meeting for affiliates since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

At the meeting, affiliates identified concrete actions to improve the knowledge base around age-friendly environments and use it to improve action; to eliminate barriers for participation and exchange, including language and geographic barriers; to ensure sustainable expansion of the Global Network, including in low- and middle-income countries; and to foster mentoring activities and peer-to-peer learning across Global Network.

But importantly, the meeting was also an opportunity to celebrate what the Global Network has achieved together in 2023 and to reconnect with friends and colleagues for another exciting year to come. We'd like to thank the Francophone Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, who hosted this affiliates meeting at the margins of their International Colloquium (learn more here).

Updates from the Network Secretariat

Explore the progress we've made to implement the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing in its first progress report

It's been three years since 2021 to 2030 was declared as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. What progress have we made together to advance its goals – and where can we accelerate action to transform the world to be a better place to grow older?

Explore the answers to these questions and more in the UN Decade's first progress report, published last November. We're particularly excited to see the work of the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities frequently featured in the report and its case studies. A great demonstration of the Global Network's strength in advancing global agendas through local action!

WHO establishes a new Commission on Social Connection

Many Global Network members already know the important role social connections play in improving the health and well-being of a community. In fact, making our environments more age-friendly can contribute to reducing social isolation and loneliness by removing physical and social barriers to participation. 

That's why we're welcoming the launch of the WHO Commission on Social Connection: a new initiative that brings together world-class leaders to reposition the issue as a global public health priority. There's so much we can do as a Global Network to support the work of the Commission – so sign-up to their mailing list for updates and ways to get involved!

Wrapping up the second English edition of the Age-friendly Environments ECHO learning programme

Throughout October and November 2023, WHO and the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) hosted the second English edition of the Age-friendly Environments ECHO Programme (AFE-ECHO).

Over 380 age-friendly leaders from 78 countries joined biweekly sessions where expert lecturers – featuring international thought leaders and Global Network affiliates with representation from the UK Centre for Ageing Better and the Centre for an Age-friendly Norway – shared their insights on how to approach the four stages of the age-friendly cycle.

Case study presentations from Upplands-Bro, Sweden; Sahand, Iran; Penang Island, Malaysia; the Vale of Glamorgan, UK; and Belfast, UK contributed to a robust and dynamic learning environment for all.

Learn more about the AFE-ECHO Programme here. Future editions of the AFE-ECHO Programme will be delivered in 2024, including an edition in French.

Contribute to a global survey on accessibility in cities

Are you interested in improving accessibility and meaningful engagement in your age-friendly communities? Accessibility is an essential consideration for any commitment to become more age-friendly, which at its core is about inclusion and leaving no one behind – regardless of their age or abilities. 

The United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Blind Union have launched the "Global Survey on Accessibility and the Engagement of Persons with Disabilities"; available in English, Spanish and French.

The survey has been developed as a direct response to the localization of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and is a tool for local and regional governments (LRGs) to map out and inform inclusive local practices by understanding how accessibility and the engagement with organizations of persons with disabilities and associations of older persons are addressed by local policies and programs. 

Click here to complete the survey. The survey should take around 20 to 40 minutes to complete, and closes on the 15th of January. For any questions, request additional time, or any technical problems, please contact policy@uclg.org. 

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.