The third UNECE Policy Dialogue on Ageing of the year addressed the challenge of coordinating ageing-related policies across government ministries and departments, looking at ageing strategies and action plans that typically provide a policy framework spanning several policy sectors and responsible ministries.
The event was kicked off by a presentation by the Secretariat. The presentation introduced coordination as a key element of mainstreaming ageing across policy fields and hence government departments. It stressed that the vision of societies for all ages cannot be achieved by government departments working in isolation. It also highlighted that coordinated action can help solve complex policy issues, provide better-targeted services and results, reduce duplication, and overcome fragmentation.
The discussion centered around the experience of coordinating ageing-related policies across government by national focal points on ageing from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, Slovenia, and Türkiye.
The discussion started off by exploring the interlinked questions of how sufficient political commitment from the highest level of government can be generated, and at what level of government coordination mechanisms should be located. Sharing experiences from their own countries, speakers agreed that buy-in from the highest level of government and key stakeholders is crucial for the successful coordination of ageing policy across the government. Also, it was highlighted that the representation of both subject matter specialists as well as the highest level of government in coordination mechanisms is crucial for effective coordination.
Furthermore, the discussion focused on the question of the institutional basis for mainstreaming ageing mechanisms. Speakers agreed on the importance of having a clear legal basis and political mandate for coordination mechanisms, e.g., through an act of parliament. It was also emphasized in the discussion that a clear legal basis and political mandate for a coordination mechanism is important for the monitoring and evaluation of ageing-related policies.
Additionally, the question of whether the coordination of ageing policy across government benefits from integration into broader policy agendas was discussed. Speakers with experience in implementing and coordinating ageing policy as part of a broader policy agenda, e.g., on demography, development, and migration, shared that it had resulted in the wide participation of different ministries and key stakeholders, which otherwise may not have been the case.
The event provided members of the UNECE Standing Working Group on Ageing with the opportunity to discuss the practice of coordinating ageing policy across government and learn from the experience of their peers.
In conclusion, the event highlighted the concrete and different ways that countries in the region are coordinating ageing-related policies across government. It clearly showed that there are common factors which play an important role in the effective coordination of ageing policy across government and its sustainability over time. These include the existence of political leadership and commitment, the participation of different levels of government, as well as a strong institutional basis.