A strong evidence base and effective policy and advocacy work – at local, national, regional and international levels – are essential to challenge age discrimination, ensure older people receive their fair share of development resources, and create a society for all ages.

A core principal of HelpAge International's work to ensure that the voices of older people are heard is the participation of older people in research, programmes and advocacy work that benefit them.

Within the framework of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), HelpAge International is working towards:

• social pensions for older people in developing countries
  
• an effective response to older people’s rights and roles in the fight against HIV/AIDS
  
• the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights for older people
  
• putting the issue of older people and intergenerational approaches at the centre of responses to the Millennium Development Goals and development as a whole
• providing vital evidence, through research, to make the case for the inclusion of older people in social-development and poverty-reduction interventions.

Activities

Participatory policy-orientated research into the contributions of older men and women in developing countries and the challenges they face.

Working in partnerships and coalitions with research and policy institutions and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to increase understanding of ageing and development issues.

Partnership activities

• Promoting the inclusion of older people in national and international policy, and supporting their involvement in civil-society advocacy.
• Building the capacity of older people and local organisations to conduct research and lobby local government.
• Lobbying national governments, international and intergovernmental institutions to tackle poverty in old age, recognise the contributions of older men and women, and uphold their rights.
• Including older men and women in international statistics, indicators and data sets on poverty, HIV/AIDS, rights and emergency situations.