Conference Organizers

The conference is convened by the Africa Region of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), in cooperation with:

  • African Research on Ageing Network
  • South African Geriatrics Society
  • South African Gerontological Association

The Local Organization of the Conference is coordinated by the Institute of Ageing in Africa, University of Cape Town (IAA at UCT) and guided by a ten-member Local Organizing Committee(LOC) . The conference secretariat is run by the UCT Conference Management Centre (CMC). Development of the conference programme
is being steered by a Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) of leading scholars and civil society role players on ageing in Africa, in consultation with an International Programme Committee (IPC) comprising key international experts on gerontology and geriatrics.

Conference Partners

The organization of the conference builds on partnerships with key international and regional bodies:

  • African Union, Department of Social Affairs
  • HelpAge International
  • Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford
  • United Nations Fund for Population Activities
  • United Nations Program on Ageing
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Centre for Gender and Social Development
  • World Demographic and Ageing Forum
  • World Health Organization, Department of Ageing and Life Course

Welcome to the website of the First IAGG Africa Region Conference on Gerontology and Geriatrics

The Conference, on the theme of “Ageing Africa: Beyond Madrid + 10”, will mark ten years since the Second United Nations World Assembly on Ageing was held in Madrid, Spain in 2002, and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and the African Union Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing (AU Plan) were adopted by the governments of African countries. The event will bring together researchers, policy makers, geriatric medicine and care practitioners, civil society role players, and other relevant stakeholders from across Africa and further abroad, 1) to assess progress in implementation of MIPAA and the AU Plan implementation in Africa, and 2) to forge directions for advancing African gerontology, geriatrics and policy action on ageing in the coming decade.

The Conference programme will:

  • Appraise existing policies on ageing in African countries
  • Consolidate knowledge on ageing in Africa and pinpoint key evidence gaps
  • Identify approaches for advancing Geriatric Medicine and old age care services in Africa
  • Establish frameworks for developing gerontological and geriatric training and research in Africa
  • Foster North-South and South-South comparisons and exchange
  • Connect stakeholders working on ageing in Africa and other world regions

Key outcomes of the Conference deliberations will be incorporated in a framework of strategic directions for African research, training, policy and practice on ageing in the coming years. On behalf of the IAGG Africa Region, we warmly invite you to participate in the Conference and to contribute to the Ageing endeavour in the continent.

Dr. Isabella Aboderin
IAGG Regional Chair for Africa and Conference Convenor
Dr. Sebastiana Kalula
Convenor of the Local Organising Committee