Bali, 11-13 September 2024: Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), in collaboration with HelpAge International and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), successfully hosted the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) on Population Ageing from 10 to 13 September 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. The event gathered over 450 experts, policymakers, UN representatives, international organisations, and civil society groups from across Asia Pacific under the theme ‘Reframing Ageing.’

The conference explored six sub-themes, each addressing different aspects of ageing. First, ‘Active and Productive Ageing’ emphasised the importance of valuing and recognising older persons through social and productive activities. Under the second sub-theme, ‘Climate Change and Population Ageing,’ speakers shared experiences and strategies in terms of intergenerational approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation. ‘Communities and Ageing Societies’ showcased successful community-level initiatives that integrated services and resources to support ageing populations. Under ‘Technology and Ageing,’ speakers discussed the role of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in supporting ageing societies, ensuring that older adults are included as both users and beneficiaries. ‘Social Protection and Ageing Societies’ explored ways to protect vulnerable populations and ensure fair access to resources and services, while ‘Caring Societies’ underscored community-based care as a crucial component of long-term care strategies. Dr Liem Nguyen and Uswa Alhamid as representatives of ERIA participated actively across these sub-themes, gaining insights into current trends and strategies for addressing ageing issues.

The conference offered side events to enrich the dialogue. There were discussions on volunteer-based home visits for older persons, organised by the University of Southampton, Atma Jaya Catholic University, and Care Networks. The Asian Development Bank and Bappenas also unveiled insights from the 2023 Indonesia Longitudinal Aging Survey. In conjunction with the conference, field visits were arranged, allowing participants to meet older persons in small communities across Bali and gain valuable insights into their daily lives and challenges.

APRC on Population Ageing 2024 served as a platform for connecting experts and exploring critical aspects of ageing societies. The conference fostered discussions on inclusive and sustainable development, offering strategies to address the challenges and opportunities associated with an ageing population.