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Mainstreaming the concerns of older
persons into the social development
agenda
Robert Venne
UN Programme on Ageing
Defining mainstreaming
process of systematically bringing issues to the
center of attention
 tool for focus and inclusion
 proxy for advocacy
 strategy and process as well as a multidimensional effort
Goals:
 greater social integration of a particular group
 inclusion of a particular issue into all aspects of
social, political, economic and cultural life
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Madrid International Plan of Action
on Ageing on mainstreaming
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Mainstreaming ageing into global agendas is
essential
Concerted effort to move towards a wide
and equitable approach to policy integration
Attempt to link ageing to other frameworks
for social and economic development and
human rights
Recognition of ability of older persons to
contribute to society
General Assembly and Commission for
Social Development on mainstreaming
General Assembly resolution 58/134 calls for:
 integration of ageing into all development policies
 setting national and international policy priorities
concerning older persons
Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1
outlines:
 review and appraisal of MIPAA every five years
by including age-specific policies and efforts to
mainstream ageing
 facilitation and promotion of MIPAA by
advocating mainstreaming
Road map for the implementation of
MIPAA
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achieving national capacity building by
mainstreaming  DESA assists in holding
national workshops to explore benefits and
obstacles regarding mainstreaming and data
collection (Senegal and Kyrgyzstan)
tracking to what extent mainstreaming occurs and
how ageing is integrated in policy planning
assigning full-time focal points on ageing for
further implementation, particularly through
appropriate mainstreaming action
UN and NGO operative efforts
UNFPA  mainstreaming ageing into areas of focus
such as reproductive health, gender and
humanitarian responses to conflict situations
WHO  focus on principles and methods of
developing health care systems that are responsive
to ageing
HelpAge International  focus on older persons as
caregivers for orphans and children as victims of
HIV/AIDS
DESA-organized meetings on followup to MIPAA
Meeting in Tanzania on poverty in Africa:
agreement to mainstream the concerns of older
persons is necessary for linking ageing to existing
policy and operational programming instruments
Meeting in Malta on modalities for R+A of MIPAA:
mainstreaming ageing into development policies as
part of the review and appraisal exercise
Meeting in Austria on national implementation of
MIPAA:
empowerment and participation are important
vehicles in mainstreaming efforts
Tools and techniques for successful
mainstreaming
(1) Data collection and analysis
 Age-disaggregated data on socio-economic situation of
older persons of particular importance
 Participatory methods for collecting information
should complement other more quantitative data
collection methods
(2) Awareness raising, advocacy and education
 Information dissemination regarding ageing and
older persons  sensitizing the public and combating
negative stereotypes and ignorance
 Public advocacy of objectives of MIPAA
Tools and techniques for successful
mainstreaming cont’d
(3) Performance indicators
 Developing benchmarks to measure improvement of life
quality of older persons and success of overall policy
 Built-in periodicity of review of policies and
programmes benefiting older persons is important
(4) Reflection of ageing in the social budget
 Establishment of mainstreaming office in finance
ministry
 Annual budget process must take the concerns and
problems of older persons into consideration 
improved equity in national resource allocation
Tools and techniques for successful
mainstreaming cont’d
(5) Evaluation of current laws and mainstreaming of
concerns into new legislation and policies
 Review of existing policies to ensure that they
adequately reflect the concerns of older persons
 Conduct of impact analysis for new policy, programmes
and laws regarding ageing and older persons
(6) National coordination and international cooperation
 Coordination of conception, sequencing of actions,
implementation as well as evaluation of policies
 Sharing of best practices
 Capacity development among governments, NGOs,
international organizations, and donors for effective
mainstreaming
Good mainstreaming practices
Bolivia:
The National Plan for Older Persons (2001)
seeks to counteract the age discrimination
currently marginalizing older people and
calls for mainstreaming a generational
perspective into all national policies and
programmes.
Good mainstreaming practices
Mauritius:
Ageing with Dignity (2001), a
comprehensive National Policy on the
Elderly, covers retirement, health and
nutrition, social protection, housing, income
security, employment, education, intergenerational relationships, social welfare
and leisure as well as institutional care, with
gender as a cross-cutting issue.
Good mainstreaming practices
New Zealand:
‘Positive Ageing Strategy’ (2001) focuses on
income security, accessible health services,
affordable housing and the opportunity ‘to age in
place’, accessible transport, non-discrimination of
rural communities, cultural services, elimination
of ageism in employment, attitude change, and
opportunities for participation concerning older
persons. Strategy development and R+A in an allinclusive manner.
Conclusion
Mainstreaming as a technique to further the
interests and well-being of older persons could
be a useful tool to promote an equitable ageintegrated society for all ages, as called for in
MIPAA. Mainstreaming, if applied prudently
should result in new policies based on careful
planning, sensible implementation and
rigorous evaluation using well-thought-out
indicators that could lead to more satisfying
results for older persons.