Addressing ageing in the Pacific Islands: Addressing ageing in the Pacific Islands: challenges and constraints in policy formulationchallenges and constraints in policy formulation

Geoffrey HayesGeoffrey HayesResearch AssociateResearch Associate

National Institute of Demographic and Economic AnalysisNational Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis

Waikato UniversityWaikato University

New ZealandNew Zealand

HelpAge International Regional Conference,HelpAge International Regional Conference,

Yangon, MyanmarYangon, Myanmar

7-11 May 20127-11 May 2012

Main challenges in addressing Main challenges in addressing ageing in the Pacificageing in the Pacific

1.1. Skepticism or denial that ageing is an issueSkepticism or denial that ageing is an issue

2.2. Lack of awareness of the Madrid International Lack of awareness of the Madrid International Action Plan on AgeingAction Plan on Ageing

3.3. Insufficient knowledge about the actual situation Insufficient knowledge about the actual situation of the elderlyof the elderly

4.4. Planning capacity weakened by structural Planning capacity weakened by structural adjustment policiesadjustment policies

5.5. Insufficient training in the formulation of social Insufficient training in the formulation of social policiespolicies

6.6. International assistance is sporadic and un-International assistance is sporadic and un-coordinatedcoordinated

11. Skepticism or denial about ageing. Skepticism or denial about ageing

““Our populations are still young, ageing is a Our populations are still young, ageing is a long way off…”long way off…”But ageing is closer than you might think. The But ageing is closer than you might think. The “oldest old” are growing fast in many Pacific “oldest old” are growing fast in many Pacific countries and will grow faster in the future.countries and will grow faster in the future.

““In our culture, the family takes care of our In our culture, the family takes care of our old people… ”old people… ”Yes, but… the family is changing rapidly due to Yes, but… the family is changing rapidly due to urbanization, local and international migration, urbanization, local and international migration, nuclearization, fertility decline, outer island nuclearization, fertility decline, outer island depopulation, etc. More signs of elder abuse or depopulation, etc. More signs of elder abuse or hardship.hardship.

Continued…Continued… ““Why are you trying to keep our old people Why are you trying to keep our old people

alive?”alive?”Ageing policy is about improving the quality Ageing policy is about improving the quality of life, not just about extending life of life, not just about extending life expectancy (“adding life to years, not years expectancy (“adding life to years, not years to life”)to life”)

““We don’t need to worry about ageing We don’t need to worry about ageing because NCDs are keeping the elderly because NCDs are keeping the elderly population low (“population control”)population low (“population control”)NCDs reduce the quality of life, and not only NCDs reduce the quality of life, and not only for the elderly. It is not just about mortality for the elderly. It is not just about mortality but morbidity. Other issues affect the quality but morbidity. Other issues affect the quality of life, such as dementia, etc.of life, such as dementia, etc.

2. 2. Lack of awareness of the MIPAA and Lack of awareness of the MIPAA and its recommendationsits recommendations

Pacific countries were not active participants Pacific countries were not active participants in the first or second World Assembly on in the first or second World Assembly on AgeingAgeing

Thus, few national coordinating bodies have Thus, few national coordinating bodies have been established, or else they were been established, or else they were established but faded awayestablished but faded away

The underlying philosophy of MIPAA is The underlying philosophy of MIPAA is therefore not well known therefore not well known

New efforts needed to improve awareness New efforts needed to improve awareness and understanding of MIPAA and ageing in and understanding of MIPAA and ageing in generalgeneral

3. 3. Lack of knowledge of the actual situation Lack of knowledge of the actual situation of the elderly and their future prospectsof the elderly and their future prospects

Including the demographic dimension (projected Including the demographic dimension (projected increases in the “old” and the “oldest old”) and increases in the “old” and the “oldest old”) and impact on health and pension costs…impact on health and pension costs…

Studies of “vulnerable groups” are useful but Studies of “vulnerable groups” are useful but may not go far enoughmay not go far enough

Need to include issues of abandonment, abuse Need to include issues of abandonment, abuse or neglect, social participation, health care, or neglect, social participation, health care, income support, particularly among widowsincome support, particularly among widows

Existing surveys need to collect or report more Existing surveys need to collect or report more data relevant to the elderly (e.g., HIES)data relevant to the elderly (e.g., HIES)

Further analysis of census data can be useful Further analysis of census data can be useful (e.g., on economic activity of the elderly) (e.g., on economic activity of the elderly)

4. Planning capacity weakened by structural 4. Planning capacity weakened by structural adjustment and reformist agendasadjustment and reformist agendas

Up to the 1980s, most Pacific countries had Up to the 1980s, most Pacific countries had strong central planning Departmentsstrong central planning Departments

By the 1990s these were being dismantled as By the 1990s these were being dismantled as part of public sector “reform” (private sector part of public sector “reform” (private sector will take care of development….)will take care of development….)

Some re-building has occurred but not Some re-building has occurred but not enoughenough

More sector planners needed (health, social More sector planners needed (health, social policy, and regional and urban planners)policy, and regional and urban planners)

Good plans or policies can pay for the cost of Good plans or policies can pay for the cost of producing them through increased efficiencyproducing them through increased efficiency

5. L5. Lack analytical and planning skills and ack analytical and planning skills and experience in policy formulation among current experience in policy formulation among current

plannersplanners Training of social and economic planners has been Training of social and economic planners has been

neglectedneglected Regional meetings on social planning virtually Regional meetings on social planning virtually

absentabsent Existing planning meetings focus largely on Existing planning meetings focus largely on

statistical issuesstatistical issues Little sharing of experience and cooperation Little sharing of experience and cooperation

between countriesbetween countries Minimal experience in developing Multi-sector Minimal experience in developing Multi-sector

Population policies (but MDG reports have helped)Population policies (but MDG reports have helped) More efforts needed to train sector planners More efforts needed to train sector planners

(health, education, economic development) in (health, education, economic development) in policy formulation tools (e.g., MDG-based target policy formulation tools (e.g., MDG-based target setting) setting)

6. International assistance is sporadic 6. International assistance is sporadic and uncoordinatedand uncoordinated

AgeingAgeing is a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary is a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary field and requires a multi-agency responsefield and requires a multi-agency response

UNFPA has taken some limited initiatives but UNFPA has taken some limited initiatives but ESCAP, ILO and WHO have a role to play ESCAP, ILO and WHO have a role to play (along with NZAID and AusAID)(along with NZAID and AusAID)

HelpAge has played a significant role in HelpAge has played a significant role in bringing countries together in recent yearsbringing countries together in recent years

Technical assistance needs to focus on Technical assistance needs to focus on capacity building, training and fostering capacity building, training and fostering communication between countriescommunication between countries

Requirements for preparing a an Requirements for preparing a an ageing policy…ageing policy…

A supportive minister and Secretariat A supportive minister and Secretariat Social planners able to undertake analysis and Social planners able to undertake analysis and

policy formulationpolicy formulation A situational analysis of the elderly or the capacity A situational analysis of the elderly or the capacity

to undertake oneto undertake one Recent census data and a set of population Recent census data and a set of population

projectionsprojections Sector planners able and willing to participate in Sector planners able and willing to participate in

the processthe process Supportive National Statistics OfficeSupportive National Statistics Office Adequate and appropriate technical assistanceAdequate and appropriate technical assistance Reasonable aims re scale and scope of the policyReasonable aims re scale and scope of the policy

The way forward in the PacificThe way forward in the Pacific Assisting countries to learn about the MIPAA Assisting countries to learn about the MIPAA

and hence what ageing policies are aboutand hence what ageing policies are about Familiarize countries with the Familiarize countries with the Research Research

AgendaAgenda of the MIPAA of the MIPAA Develop a regional strategy on ageing Develop a regional strategy on ageing

through a meeting of all Pacific countriesthrough a meeting of all Pacific countries Improve donor coordination and leadershipImprove donor coordination and leadership Increase technical assistance and improve Increase technical assistance and improve

its relevance to country situationsits relevance to country situations ““Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the

good”good”

Thank you!