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International Seminar on the Active Ageing Index will connect researchers with policymakers

Active Ageing is by now a widely known and well-established concept referring to a situation where we continue to participate in the labour market, engage in unpaid productive activities such as care provision to family members and volunteering and live healthy, independent and secure lives as we age. Policies promoting active ageing thus need to address a variety of dimensions: enable possibilities for longer working life, ensure social involvement, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide opportunities for independent living for both men and women. A growing number of countries in the UNECE region have developed holistic policy frameworks that promote active ageing, and have recently reaffirmed their commitment to active ageing policies in the Lisbon Ministerial Declaration.

Active Ageing Index (AAI)

UNECE and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion have developed a monitoring tool that provides evidence for informed decision-making, development and monitoring of policies and strategies on ageing. The Active Ageing Index is composed of 22 indicators grouped into four domains. It captures various facets of active ageing: it measures how much of older men and women’s potential to contribute to the economy and society is used and to what extent their living environment enables them. All indicators are measured separately for men and women. This makes it possible to detect gender gaps in active ageing.

Second International Seminar on the Active Ageing Index

The Second International Seminar on the Active Ageing Index will be held in Bilbao on 27-28 September 2018. It is jointly organized by UNECE, the European Commission, the University of the Basque Country, and the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, with the support of the Government of Biscay (Spain).


It will provide a multidisciplinary forum for those interested in the use of AAI to enhance knowledge about ageing and older people and the development of better policies; and in learning more about how to use composite measures, and the AAI in particular, for development and monitoring of policy measures in such multifaceted socio-economic phenomena as active ageing.


Around 40 research papers on different aspects of application of the AAI will be presented for discussion with stakeholders. Policymakers will get an opportunity to learn more about active ageing and how AAI can be used in various contexts for policy analysis and monitoring. The seminar will provide a variety of opportunities for interaction between participants. One of which is the AAI Hackathon — a 24-hour challenge for researchers based on a specific policy challenge identified by two regions or municipalities. Registrations to the seminar are now open.


Learn more about the Active Ageing Index
Find out more about the seminar
Register here

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