Older Persons and the Post 2015 agenda:
a Sub-Saharan African’s perspective
Seminar Series: After 2015-The road towards the next global
development agenda
The Youth Bulge in a graying world- a demographic challenge?
Hosts: Dag Hammarskjold Foundation and UNDP’s Nordic Office
March 7, 2014
Presenter: Nesta Hatendi
International Development Consultant
nhatendi@yahoo.com
Presentation Outline
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Ageing in Africa- some facts
Challenges of Ageing in Sub Saharan Africa
Key Policy and Legal Frameworks on Ageing
Policy influencing supporting the Post 2015 discussions
Societal Changes to Accommodate Ageing population-way
forward
• Asks of the Seminar Series Partners
• Questions and Answers
4/13/2015
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‘Africa is not a country, it is a
continent’
Ageing in Africa
 Currently 59.7 million people over 60+ years (6%) of population. By 2050, 215 million older
people-10% of the African regional population*
 Numbers and proportion of older people increasing in all countries despite HIV/Aids,
wars, famines and other natural and man made disasters
 Africa is ageing more rapidly than any other continent, however are we prepared in terms
of relevant economic and social opportunities and protection?
 HelpAge International’s Global Age Watch Index 2013: 8/54 African countries featuredoverall shortage of internationally comparable data measuring quality of life and well
being based on 4 domains: income security, health status, employment and education,
enabling environment**
 Urbanization and climate changes are producing a new and different set of challenges
especially for the older population- issues of age friendly environments
*Source: UNDESA, Population Division (2012) www.unpopulation.org
** Source Global Age Watch Index Report, HelpAge International (2013)
Ageing in Africa
 Nearly 30% of women and over 50% of men aged 65+ in Africa continue to work*. Africa
has the world’s highest rate of people employed but earning less that $2 a day (IRIN Feb
2014)
 Older people make up significant numbers of Africa’s farmers
 Over 60% of orphaned and vulnerable children in Sub Saharan Africa live with and are
cared for by grandparents
 90% of AIDS care is provided at home, often by older people, usually women
 Older men and women play important roles in helping communities deal with and recover
from natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies
 Older people are the guardians of African history and culture
*Source: Africa Development Indicators 2011, African Development Bank, DHS surveys 2007/8
Some challenges of Ageing Agenda in Sub Saharan Africa
Political will-focus is on Africa’ youth bulge- half of current African population under
the age of 14 yrs. So is ageing population a priority?
Dearth of studies and data for policy influencing on ageing and life cycle approaches
Donor funded interventions- pension pilots, health, food security, shelter and access
to basic services. Is this sustainable? Where is the ownership?
Impact of out migration in households headed by older persons and the effect on
quality of care and well being
Issues of human rights of vulnerable populations: social services access,
emergencies, voices in policy and decision making
Age discrimination alive and unaddressed e.g. older persons’ health and insurance
Demographic Dividend-Falling numbers of births, the 15-64 year olds projected to
rise from 56% at present, to 64.3% in 2080.
How can we make ageing a positive experience rather than a burden?
4/13/2015
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Policy Influencing supporting the Post 2015 discussions
Examples
Age Watch Policy Brief 1- Mainstreaming Ageing into the Post 2015 process (HelpAge
International March 2012)
Building a Future for all Ages (HelpAge International Discussion Paper, October 2012)
Ageing in 21st Century: A Celebration and a Challenge (UNFPA and HelpAge International
2012)
AU Common Position on Ageing 2013
Global Age Watch Index 2013 (HelpAge International)
AU Common Position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda 2014: Acknowledges the
increasing ageing population. Need for domestic resource mobilization, enabling environment
for civil society, evidence based decision making, continued work on poverty eradication
Societal Changes to accommodate Ageing Population-Way Forward
Awareness Raising :
Working Group on Ageing and Disability at the UN Post 2015 High Level Panel Meeting
Monrovia, Liberia 2013
Social Protection: Sida/Norad grand to Africa Platform for Social Protection (APSP) has
widened its engagement and support to national platforms in 29 countries. APSP facilitated
and provided input to the World Bank Social Protection Strategy for Africa and the draft
strategies for the Africa Development Bank, the UN and AU Social Protection Floors
 Research and knowledge sharing-IAGG/AFRAN Africa Regional Conference on Gerontology
and Geriatrics 2012- improved research and knowledge sharing on ageing including in S Korea
2013
International Federation on Ageing Conference in Cameroon 2013: Ageing and Age Friendly
Environments
Joint African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), African Union Commission
(AUC) and the United National Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): Working Group
titled, ‘Aging and Achieving a first Demographic Dividend (DD) in Africa’ (2013)
UN International Day of Older Persons, October 1: Older people participate in various Age
Demands Action (ADA) activities with country specific themes e.g. access to health, pensions,
transport subsidies
Societal Changes to Accommodate Ageing Population- Way forward
Policy engagement is a complex, a long-term process and sufficient investment is needed
for any chance of success
Civil Society Organisations have to acquire a different set of skills to those NGOs
traditionally rely upon for global policy influencing- develop e.g. evidence based advocacy
Forge partnerships with other groups that can mainstream/complement work on ageing
and support evidence based research for influencing future policy and practice
Political will and prioritization by African Governments-incorporate intergenerational
solutions, nurture champions, institutional frameworks for social security for older persons
Acknowledge national policy weaknesses and identify ways of overcoming them- e.g. state
resources allocation and prioritization?
Training and awareness raising of policy makers and our populations on the life cycle
approach
Cultural shift on caring for older persons- residential care systems, age friendly cities?
‘Asks’ of Seminar Series Partners for Post 2015 Policy Influencing on
Ageing in Africa
Support now and post 2015:
Research and Policy influencing- e.g. developing an AU Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework for Older Persons in Africa
 Advocate to ensure the post-2015 development framework incorporates goals,
targets and indicators that are responsive to different stages of the life course
 Promote civil society capacity building for effective participation in policy
influencing up to global level
Exploring alternative funding sources for social, economic reform- e.g. extractive
industries, taxation, remittances, corruption and illicit money flows
Promotion of multi-sectoral dialogue, success stories and global learning on issues
impacting on ageing e.g. Seminar Series
 Training course on Ageing- cadre of persons to champion ageing-in the workplace,
at national and regional levels
Thank you for listening!
Qs and As