1. 1
HelpAge Network Asia/Pacific
Regional Conference
Rapid Ageing: A Caring Future
7-11 May 2012
Yangon, Myanmar
Mr. Donovan Storey
Chief, Social Policy & Population Section
Social Development Division, ESCAP
Ms. Cai Cai
Social Affairs Officer, SDD, ESCAP

2. Contents
1. ESCAP – regional arm of United Nations
2. Highlights of regional actions on ageing
3. Regional survey findings
4. MIPAA +10 review roadmap

3. 1. ESCAP – regional arm of UN for Asia-Pacific
Part of UN Secretariat
62 members and associate members
ESCAP region encompasses 60% of the world’s
population
Members range from world’s largest to some of
smallest and poorest countries

5. 2. ESCAP’s Regional Programme on Ageing
ESCAP serves as an intergovernmental platform to:
o Develop a regional response to the demographic transition
o Share knowledge & good practices in addressing population
ageing challenges
o Promote implementation of the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing (MIPAA), identify gaps & regional priorities
through review & appraisal
ESCAP provides technical assistance to Governments to
design & implement policies/programmes that empower &
protect older persons

6. Highlights of regional actions led by ESCAP
1998 - A Regional Meeting on a Plan of Action on Ageing for
Asia and the Pacific: Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on
Ageing for Asia and the Pacific
2002 – Seminar on Regional Follow-up to the Second World
Assembly on Ageing: Shanghai Implementation Strategy
2007 – High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing: Macao
Outcome document
2009 – Subregional Seminar on Ageing Readiness in South-
East Asia and South Asia (Jakarta)

7. Highlights of regional actions (cont.)
2010 – Regional Seminar on Health Promotion and Active
Ageing in Asia and the Pacific (co-organized with HelpAge)
2011 – Regional Forum on Elderly Care Services in Asia and
the Pacific
2011 – Regional Preparatory Meeting for Asia-Pacific
Intergovernmental Meeting on the Second Regional Review &
Appraisal of MIPAA
2012 – Capacity Building Workshop for National Policy
Response (co-organized with UNDESA)

8. 3. Regional Survey on Ageing
Objective
o Compile data on national actions taken to implement MIPAA
Background
o Integral part of the regional second review and appraisal of MIPAA
o Questionnaire was sent to all ESCAP member States and associate
members
o Findings are based on responses received from 30 countries and areas

9. Regional survey findings: National coordination, policy
frameworks and MIPAA implementation
 Most countries/areas have developed national plans and specific institutional
arrangements
 Majority specified institutional arrangements including: specific ministries, inter-
ministerial, within specific departments, advisory bodies
 Over half have specific policies/plans on ageing & over one-third have overarching
specialized legislation for older persons
 On budgetary allocation Training & Support for Caregivers followed by Research
on Ageing and Developing and Strengthening of Geriatric Services
 Challenges to MIPAA implementation: budgetary resources, capacity, and
human resources dedicated to aging issues
 Gender-specific policies yet to be reflected in many national priorities/ plans

10. Regional survey findings: Older Persons and Development
 More measures are in place to enable productive ageing and provision of social
protection (incl. income support, health care)
 Still, only one-third cited specific action plans/programs on older persons and
development
 Almost half had specific measures to involve older persons at different levels of
policy-making or decision-making
 Over half have increased employment opportunities (training, delaying
retirement age or providing accessible work options)
 A multi-pillar approach - family care/support alongside institutional care/support
- is also evident in the region

11. Regional survey findings: Advancing Health & Well-Being
Into Old Age
 Greater accessibility, affordability and availability of health care systems was
evident. These vary in provision and financing
 Most respondents have policies/plans on accessible and affordable health care
and in addressing the 3As – accessibility, affordability and availability
 More than half invested in geriatric and gerontologist care through
diploma/degree programs, training and lifelong vocational training
 Provisions for mental health needs of older persons remains a significant gap
and need, including in developed economies
 Need for health promotion on the prevention and maintenance of NCD and
women’s health was indicated through responses as well as ‘active ageing’

12. Ageing requires a person to constantly adapt to their environment in response to
changing needs & personal circumstances
 More accessible and affordable physical environments and care services – but
gaps remain in enhancing perceptions of safety and well-being
To some level, most countries/areas:
o have recognized importance of provision of accessible housing
o have some mechanisms to monitor the quality of aged care services
o have developed training programs for formal (some informal) caregivers, with
some examples of a continuum of care and services
 The establishment of accreditation systems for care training is found in only a few
countries and hinders portability
Regional survey findings: Ensuring enabling and supportive
environments

13. 4. MIPAA +10 review roadmap
National level: national review of MIPAA
(bottom-up participatory approach)
Regional level: analysis of progress, review meeting &
regional outcomes
Global review: 51st session of the Commission for
Social Development in 2013

14. ESCAP resolution 67/5, 25 May 2011
“Full and effective implementation of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in the
Asia-Pacific region”
 Decides to convene the Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Second
Regional Review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing in 2012 to provide a regional input to the global review;
 Encourages all members and associate members: to conduct a national review
and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, using, among other things, a bottom-
up participatory approach;
 Encourage the participation of all key stakeholders, including civil society
organizations and the private sector, in the preparatory process for the second
global review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action.

15. Highlights of regional actions on MIPAA review
Regional Preparatory Meeting for Asia-Pacific
Intergovernmental Meeting on the Second Regional Review &
Appraisal of MIPAA, Beijing, November 2011
Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Second
Regional Review & Appraisal of MIPAA, Bangkok, 10-12
September 2012

16. National Report on MIPAA implementation
Reflect findings from national review and appraisal of
MIPAA implementation, including progress made and
gaps/challenges that remain
Cover the three pillars of MIPAA
Use quantitative and qualitative methods, based on a bottom-
up participatory approach
Submitted to ESCAP in early August 2012 (which will be
uploaded onto its website and shared with UNHQ)

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THANK YOU
For more information
escap-sdd@un.org
www.unescap.org