JAKARTA, 24 February 2026 – The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen regional cooperation on population ageing and promote active, healthy, and productive ageing across ASEAN. The signing took place during a high-level roundtable, “Shaping the Future of Ageing Societies: Sharing Experiences and Driving Innovation,” at Raffles Hotel in Jakarta, bringing together senior officials from ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, dialogue partners, and development organisations to exchange insights and chart a collaborative path forward.
The partnership comes at a critical moment as ASEAN undergoes a rapid demographic transition, with older persons projected to reach nearly 200 million by 2050. The ACAI-UNFPA collaboration aims to support Member States in addressing the challenges and opportunities of ageing populations through evidence-based policies, regional dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives.
Key areas of cooperation under the MOU include promoting healthy ageing and access to quality health services, utilising data such as National Transfer Accounts to inform policy decisions, fostering regional dialogue on the care economy and intergenerational solidarity, and strengthening the economic and financial resilience of older adults with inclusive and gender-responsive approaches.
The roundtable and signing ceremony were attended by prominent regional leaders, including His Excellency San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community; His Excellency Yonetani Koji, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN; Ms. Binh Tran, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN; and Mr. Suwit Mangkhala, Deputy Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, reflecting strong regional commitment to advancing active ageing.
Dr. Somsak Akksilp, Executive Director of ACAI, emphasized that the partnership aims to translate regional commitment into concrete actions that reach communities, empower individuals, and transform societies across ASEAN. Dr. Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, Regional Director a.i. of UNFPA Asia-Pacific, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure longer lives are accompanied by health, dignity, and security, reaffirming UNFPA’s role as a committed partner in supporting evidence-based ageing policies and programs in the region.
