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
- African Population and Health Research Center
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North-West University, South Africa
The AFRICA AGEING Conference will mark ten years since African governments adopted the UN Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and the African Union Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing.
At this juncture, the historic conference will, for the first time, bring together research, civil society, policy and practice role players from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on challenges and opportunities of ageing in the continent.
The Conference programme will provide a unique platform not only for knowledge transfer and cutting edge debate on the realities of old age and older persons in Africa’s societies, but also to forge directions for responding to and harnessing ageing in the region.
More than 20 parallel sessions and convened symposia covering three tracks reflecting MIPAA priority areas will address critical questions on the social, health, care and economic dimensions of ageing, while special round tables will explore avenues and approaches for advancing research and training on ageing in Africa. A dedicated half-day symposium on Geriatric Care in Africa will provide state-of-the-art instruction on key aspects of clinical and social care for older persons.
The four Conference plenary sessions featuring prominent African and international speakers will address issues of cross-cutting relevance to all dimensions of ageing in the continent.
An exciting social programme and professional site visits have been planned, in which you are invited to participate within the vibrant setting of Cape Town.
We greatly look forward to welcoming you to this unique Conference, where you will join colleagues from across Africa and further abroad in debating, building capacity, networking and setting agenda on ‘Africa Ageing’
Dr. Isabella Aboderin
IAGG Regional Chair for Africa and Conference Convenor
Dr. Sebastiana Kalula
Convenor of the Local Organising Committee
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 / Senior Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Sebastiana Kalula
Convenor of the Local Organising Committee
