May 2026

IFA Strategy 2026-2029: Towards Collective Action on Healthy Ageing and Longevity

The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) has launched its new Strategy 2026–2029: Towards Collective Action on Healthy Ageing and Longevity. The strategy is both a roadmap and a call to action. We are inviting governments, civil society, academia, industry, communities and individuals to work together to build longevity-ready societies.

At its core, the strategy challenges outdated narratives that frame ageing as a problem and a burden. Instead, IFA envisions a future where ageing is embraced as a strength and where people everywhere can age with health, dignity, participation, and connection. 

Informed by our members and global stakeholders, the strategy outlines how IFA will strengthen its role as a trusted convener, connector, knowledge broker and advocate across sectors and regions.

The strategy also highlights the urgent need for collaboration across human rights, health and care, age-friendly environments, digital transformation, climate resilience, and the future of work and longevity economies.

No single organisation or sector can respond to demographic change alone. 

We invite members, partners, funders, technical collaborators and champions from around the world to join us in this collective effort to ensure longer lives are matched with health, dignity, participation and connection.

Shaping the Future of Ageing Together

Central to IFA’s Strategy 2026-2029 is the belief that meaningful progress can only happen through collective action. To help strengthen this global movement, IFA has introduced a revitalised membership model designed to deepen collaboration, engagement and shared impact across sectors and regions.

The new model creates clearer pathways for organisations, professionals, researchers, advocates and emerging leaders to connect, exchange knowledge, shape global conversations and help build longevity-ready societies. 

Questions? Contact us at membership@ifa.ngo

The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) marked an important milestone for advancing healthy ageing, longevity-ready systems, and prevention-centred health policy within global health discussions. As a non-State actor in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) was actively engaged throughout the Assembly, contributing to consultations, delivering constituency statements, convening official side events, and strengthening collaboration across governments, civil society, and global partners. 

Reinforcing the importance of embedding and investing in healthy ageing across agendas, IFA held bilateral meetings with government stakeholders, met with WHO officials, engaged with civil society organisations and private sector partners, and co-hosted three official side events focused on investing in healthy ageing, advancing healthy longevity as a whole-of-society strategy, and strengthening life-course immunisation to support resilient and equitable health systems. 

IFA was also honoured to have the opportunity to deliver constituency statements under Agenda Items 12.1 Follow-up to the Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases and 15.5 Draft strategy on the economics of health for all, urging Member States to embed  healthy ageing within NCD responses, economic and financing frameworks, and integrated care systems through age-inclusive policies, prevention, life-course immunisation, and investments in long-term care and the care economy.  

As we enter the second half of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, IFA was pleased to see WHA79 reinforcing the growing momentum behind longevity-ready and age-inclusive approaches across health, social, and economic systems. Join us as we continue to strengthen coordinated advocacy, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained political leadership to ensure population ageing is recognised as a defining opportunity for healthier, more inclusive, and resilient societies.  

“The vision I have is a broad one: putting together NCDs and communicable disease and understanding the broad impact on society - far beyond the health impact by itself”

— Consultations, Elevating Older Persons and Healthy Ageing in the Global NCD Agenda 



Following action on the Political Declaration on NCDs at WHA79, IFA's newest report makes clear that longevity readiness requires a shift in how NCDs are framed - not as isolated conditions, but as part of a broader continuum of health across the life course.

Drawing on an environmental scan of policy agendas and expert consultations, the report identifies persistent gaps in how ageing is integrated into NCD prevention, care, and system design:    

• Gaps in access and infrastructure continue to undermine NCD prevention and management  
• Provider and patient education remain critical shortfalls  
• Care pathways for older adults remain fragmented and poorly coordinated  
• Healthy ageing is still inadequately reflected in the global NCD agenda 

Addressing NCDs in ageing societies requires moving beyond siloed approaches - integrating demographic change into policy, governance, and care delivery, while recognising the broader social and economic implications of healthy ageing. 

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