The impact of emerging issues on older people 47th Commission for Social Development, 9th February 2009 Older people contribute so much, Introduce self and thanks…. it’s time to invest in them.

The century of ageing Source: World Population Prospects, 2004, UNDESA World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs The century of ageing Source: World Population Prospects, 2004, UNDESA

Source: World Population Prospects, 2004, UNDESA World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Source: World Population Prospects, 2004, UNDESA

Poverty and older people in Africa World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Poverty and older people in Africa

Ongoing, cyclical food, fuel and climate crises Even before price rises, 900 million chronically hungry Higher % of income on food Eating less Buying less nutritious food Less to invest in small-scale food production

Food and fuel crisis in Kyrgyzstan Impact on older people in winter Entire pension (av. $30) on flour Diet of bread and tea – no hot food, fruit or vegetables Room temperature below 12C : cow dung or wood

The financial crisis: 2 trends affecting older people Drops in the amount and value of development aid Slowing economic growth

A pro-poor policy response More and better aid Stimulate internal consumer markets Promote employment & social security Money in the hands of poor No reduction in government social spending High Level Task Force on Food Price Crisis: “comprehensive targeted social protection systems that achieve universal coverage of vulnerable groups and link to other basic social services will build resilience to future shocks” Expand and create social protection schemes

The impact of social pensions on poverty in South Africa World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs The impact of social pensions on poverty in South Africa 96% 54% 21% 98% 71% 32% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Households only with older people including All households Poverty gap reduction Destitution gap reduction

Secondary beneficiaries of pension income in Namibia World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Secondary beneficiaries of pension income in Namibia

Impact of cash transfers on economic growth Social pensions stimulate demand for goods and services In Zambia, 70% of cash is spent on locally-produced goods. In South Africa, new businesses opened because of pension; balance of spending shifted from imported goods to locally produced goods. In north-east Brazil, pension has significantly stimulated trade. In Malawi – Dowa cash transfer – for every $1 transferred, a regional multiplier effect of up to 2.45 was observed in local economy.

World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Malawi: costs of pension for all over- 65s World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision Population Database, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Malawi: costs of pension for all over- 65s  ]

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