Unlocking the Power of Older Persons as Partners in Localizing SDG Delivery.

 

Older persons are cornerstones of their communities—not only as equal rights holders but as active agents of change. They can bring direct lived experience, knowledge, and insight, making them essential stakeholders in shaping their communities’ futures.Embracing and understanding their prioritiesand needs, while also leveraging their knowledge and experience, and valuing their participation as full partners, creates opportunities for more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to SDG delivery at national and sub-national levels. Barriers to their meaningful engagement and participation – spanning social, economic, physical, technological and systemic dimensions – stemming from negative andageist stereotypes of older age, and age discriminatory policies and practices, must be overcome through effective policies and actions that challenge detrimental social norms and behaviours. Their full participation, through intersectional approaches and intergenerational approaches, strengthens efforts to achieve meaningful progress for people of all ages while ensuring the SDGs fulfil their promise to leave no-one behind by 2030.