Download Irish Aid funded Afford programme

Irish Aid funded Afford programme
Mozambique statistics
Population
25.20 million1
Official language
Portuguese
Local currency
Meticals
GDP (current US$)
$14.24 billion1
Population below poverty line
54.7%1
Life expectancy at birth
501
% of population aged 60+
5.2%2
Projected population 60 + in
2050
7.2%2
Social Pension
No
Pension Coverage
15.3% people 65+ 2
1. The World Bank, 2012
2. HelpAge International, 2012
Impact of the Irish Aid funded programme
Turning World Aids Day commemorations into advocacy opportunity for AgeFriendly Community-Based Health Fair
Through the AFFORD programme, HelpAge has been working to raise awareness
with the local communities about HIV and other key health issues affecting older
people in Malavela, Manhiça District, Maputo province. The partner organisation,
ACIDECO, is supporting older people to access health and HIV/Aids services and to
break down the stigma and misinformation about ageing and HIV. Older people are
often excluded from HIV/Aids responses in Mozambique, due to age-based
discrimination and the belief that HIV/Aids only effects those of reproductive age.
However a national survey (2009) shows that the prevalence rate among older
people is 8.5%.
World Aids Day, an age-friendly, community-based health fair was held in Malavela,
where access to health testing was available including HIV testing. 100 people were
tested and those who tested positive given counselling and support and referred for
treatment to help them live healthier longer lives with the disease.
Civil society monitoring of Social Protection Accountable Mechanisms
Through the AFFORD Programme HelpAge International is working closely with the
Mozambique Platform of Civil Society for Social Protection which is leading the way
on
civil
society accountability mechanisms. The
platform
monitors the
implementation of cash transfers to older people in Mozambique. Older people
make up 90% of beneficiaries of this programme, so it is a key social protection
mechanism for them. The platform has been given technical support and advice
through AFFORD to build its capacity resulting in gaining formal recognition by the
Government.
As a result the national cash transfer program is now being independently monitored
at community level by civil society to provide evidence of access to social protection
programmes and ensure that older people are included. The platform has also
allowed the voices of vulnerable older people to be documented and heard by the
decision-making bodies and institutions.
Tanzania statistics
Population
47.78 million1
Official language
Kiswahili. English
Local currency
Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
GDP (current US$)
$28.24 billion1
Population below poverty line
28.2%1
Life expectancy at birth
611
% of population aged 60+
4.9%2
Projected population 60 + in
2050
6.4%2
Social Pension
No
Pension coverage
3.2% people 65+2
1. The World Bank, 2012
2. HelpAge International, 2012
Impact of the Irish Aid funded programme
Older people successfully raise their voice for access to social protection measures
Older people in Mbarali, Tanzania face high rates of poverty; rates among
households containing an older person are 21.8% higher than the national poverty
rate (40.9%). Over 97% of older people do not receive any form of social security.
Through support from Irish Aid, HelpAge International is working with older people’s
groups setting up district engagement meetings to bring together older people with
representatives from local councils, the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) and
community self-help schemes. The meetings give older people the opportunity to
present their concerns and call for inclusion in social protection schemes.
Following engagement with older people, the local council agreed that older people
would be entitled to cash transfers, providing 142 older people with a reliable
income. Further, the council initiated a new programme providing older people with
dairy goats as an additional livelihood activity. These changes demonstrate the
power of older people to access entitlements through advocating for their rights.
Uganda statistics
Population
36.35 million1
Official language
English & Swahili
Local currency
Ugandan shilling (UGX)
GDP (current US$)
$20.03 billion1
Population below poverty line
24.5%1
Life expectancy at birth
591
% of population aged 60+
3.9%2
Projected population 60 + in
2050
5.8%2
Social Pension
No
Pension coverage
0.9% people 65+2
1. The World Bank, 2012
2. HelpAge International, 2012
Impact of the Irish Aid funded programme
Older Citizens Monitoring Groups and community advocacy
In Northern Uganda, HelpAge set up Older Citizen’s Monitoring Groups (OCMGs).
The groups, who are volunteers and made up of older people themselves, monitor
access to services for older people. They are trained in advocacy, monitoring,
documentation and communication skills to help them promote change at local and
national level. The volunteers listen to the key issues and concerns of older people
and raise them with local decision-makers and service providers.
“We approach big offices like the District Health Officer-DHO with complaints, about
the services, received from older people. As a result changes are now happening, for
example the Lulingo Health Centre II in Nwoya District has now identified a focal
point person and essential drugs for older persons after our complaints about the
way that older people were treated’’
- Quote from OCMG, 29th November 2013.
From shame to success-the story of Santa Amony, 60 years
Amony Santa, from Atiak Sub-county Amuru District, became widowed when her
husband killed himself after he suspected he contracted the HIV virus from an extra
marital affair. She subsequently lived in fear with hearsay and gossip in the
community as a suspected HIV victim turned widow, until she confirmed her
negative status in 2013.
Thanks to Nongo Dito Tek Older Persons’ Group and the group’s Village Savings and Loan
Association, facilitated by HelpAge, Amony Santa received a loan to open a charcoal
burning business, which helped her to increase her earning, food production and
acquire assets – 2 goats and a bicycle. The group is also an emotional support for
Amony.