HelpAge’s transformation journey: putting the global network at the heart of change

By Cherian Mathews, CEO of HelpAge International

Change is never simple. But it creates the space for renewal and a chance to reflect on what matters most — and how to strengthen your foundations for the future. That is the journey HelpAge International has been on, and it is one that continues today.

Earlier in 2025, we carried out a mid-term review of our 2030 strategy, Ageing in a Just World. It was an honest and sometimes challenging process. But also an inspiring one. The review confirmed that our direction is right, while urging us to sharpen our focus. Most importantly, it highlighted the central lesson of this change process: the HelpAge global network must be at the heart of everything we do.

In response, we have reorganised and are making three visible shifts in how HelpAge works with and through the global network:

• from direct project delivery to trust-based partnerships;
• from being a service provider to acting as a convener and thought leader on ageing;
• from a traditional INGO delivery model to becoming an enabler, amplifying evidence, advocacy and the voice of older people worldwide.

This transformation is about more than structure. It is about building a movement for change that is both locally rooted and globally connected, with the HelpAge global network leading the way. The localisation of most of our country offices has already been a major step in this direction, strengthening local leadership and ownership. In many ways, this is also about going back to our roots. HelpAge began as a network, and it is the network’s energy, expertise and leadership that continue to drive change today.

Every day, members of the global network are on the frontlines mobilising older people, delivering programmes, generating evidence, influencing policies, and pressing governments to act. Together, this vibrant community is advancing our four shared priorities: securing older people’s rights, expanding social protection, supporting healthy ageing, and ensuring inclusive humanitarian action, with gender equality and climate change running through them all. Our role at HelpAge is to connect this work, amplify it, and make sure that the voices of older people are heard at the highest levels.

We are deeply grateful to our donors and partners for their continued support and encouragement in this transformation journey. It is their commitment that makes it possible for us to strengthen the global network and drive lasting change for older people worldwide.

In making these shifts, we are not alone. Across civil society, organisations are also rethinking how they work, relate and deliver impact — while grappling with one of the most severe funding challenges in decades. We are committed to sharing our experience openly, and to learning from others who are also reimagining their role.

The strength of HelpAge has always come from the extraordinary global network it is part of. As we take this next step, I am confident that together we can move faster, go further, and create a better world to grow older in.