July 2024

📣 New Announcement 📣

IFACONF2025 Expert Advisors

The International Federation on Ageing is proud to introduce the esteemed group of expert advisors who are playing a pivotal role in shaping the agenda and discussions for the IFA 17th Global Conference on Ageing. These leaders in their respective fields bring unparalleled knowledge and experience, ensuring that the conference not only addresses the most pressing issues related to ageing but also sets the stage for innovative solutions.

From global health and human rights to economic inclusion and digital innovation, our expert advisors are the driving force behind the #IFACONF2025 that will take place from 9th to 12th September 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. Their insights and guidance are crucial as we work towards actionable outcomes that will impact ageing communities worldwide.

For detailed information on the conference, visit www.ifaconf.ngo.

Interactive dialogue: Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) often is perceived as a childhood illness, but it can pose serious life-threatening risks to older adults and those suffering from noncommunicable (NCDs). Annually, RSV leads to over 3.4 million hospitalizations and 100,000 deaths worldwide. Health Canada’s approval of an RSV vaccine for individuals aged 60 and over, empathizes the pressing need for increased awareness and targeted advocacy efforts by organizations supporting older and at-risk populations.

In response, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is hosting an online interactive dialogue: Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada.

This dialogue aims to improve understanding of RSV and enhance advocacy efforts for RSV disease prevention and vaccination across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and patient and professional organizations in Canada. 

Date:          10 September 2024

Time:          9:00 AM- 10:00 AM EST

Location:     Zoom Teleconference 

Register below and join us for an exciting discussion!

Survey -

We want to hear from you!

The IFA has launched a national survey aimed at assessing awareness of RSV and vaccination advocacy efforts among NGOs, CSOs and patient and professional organizations that support older and at-risk populations. IFA invites you to complete the survey and share your insights.



The insights from this interactive dialogue, along with the national survey will be used to create a consensus statement and adaptable educational resources for vulnerable groups.

Press Release -

Ageing organizations support NACI’s recommendations on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older and at-risk adults in Canada

In response to the recent recommendations on RSV vaccination, issued by NACI on, July 12, 2024, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), in collaboration with, The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP),

The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization (CanAge) has released a press statement that supports and emphasizes the importance of applying these recommendations across all provinces and territories.

Announcing the 3^rd English Edition of the AFE ECHO Programme!

Missed out on participating in the last 3 editions of the Age-friendly Environments (AFE) ECHO Programme? The International Federation on Ageing and WHO are excited to share that the 3^rd English edition of the AFE ECHO Programme will be held from 15 October to 10 December! With the support of GNAFCC Affiliates from the governments of New Zealand, Western Australia, and Queensland along with colleagues at the WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office and La Trobe University, the IFA and WHO look forward to engaging with another cohort of age-friendly champions.

Check out The Shingles Atlas for Adult Vaccination (SAAV) to help support shingles vaccination policy in your country!

The IFA’s advocacy tool, the Shingles Atlas for Adult Vaccination (SAAV) now spans 36 countries with up-to-date information on the status of shingles at the country level. The SAAV has been developed for policy makers and key stakeholders to influence and shape shingles vaccination policy at the national level. 

This advocacy tool is a vast repository of information that looks at national vaccine recommendations processes, shingles vaccine recommendations and schedules, adult shingles vaccine funding, vaccine coverage rates, monitoring mechanisms for vaccination coverage, prevalence rate on burden of shingles, shingles vaccination pathways, and barriers to shingles vaccination. 

Additional insights on the SAAV and shingles disease and vaccination are provided in the recently released executive summary. The executive summary delves into overarching findings of this advocacy tool, including a look at countries that either include or do not include policies and programs on shingles vaccination. Please also take a look at the international webinar held earlier this year on the SAAV, and the graphic explainer video, which helps users understand how to use the SAAV. 

Let us work together to change shingles vaccination policies nationally and protect older adults from shingles disease.

Call for input! Have you or someone you know had hMPV?

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a virus that causes respiratory tract infections, belonging to the same family of viruses as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Like many other respiratory viruses, hMPV can pose severe health risks to older people and those with underlying conditions, resulting in hospitalization, loss of function, morbidity or mortality.

To capture the impact of hMPV on people at risk, their families, and communities and raise awareness, the IFA is looking for individuals who have had hMPV or live with an underlying health condition that puts them at risk of the debilitating symptoms of hMPV and who may be interested in being interviewed about their experience.

Interested in learning more? Contact Ms. Abbira Nadarajah with your expression of interest: Anadarajah@ifa.ngo

This month on the Global Café

Sign up here to receive weekly invitations to join the IFA’s Global Café, hosted every Friday at 7.00am EDT. Have topics or speakers you would like to see on the IFA Global Café? Feel welcome to contact Senior Policy and Project Coordinator Mitali Mistry (mmistry@ifa.ngo) with your recommendations!

IFA Global Café Archive

If you were unable to attend any of the IFA Global Café sessions, we have great news for you! All past sessions, along with valuable resources and materials, are now accessible on our website. Whether you're interested in exploring specific topics or simply want to catch up on the insightful discussions, you can conveniently view the recorded sessions at your leisure.

We invite you to visit our website to experience the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared by our distinguished speakers and panelists. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the thought-provoking content from the IFA Global Café series.

Stay up-to-date: Follow the IFA on Twitter today!