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AUICK Second 2008 Workshop AUICK held its Second Workshop of 2008 in Kobe, Japan, from 26 October to 3 November, with the support of Kobe City Government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The theme of the workshop was “Population Aging and Appropriate Measures for the Aged”. Eight participants attended from AUICK Associate Cities, as well as three interpreters, a resource person, two academic collaborators and members of AUICK’s International Advisory Committee (IAC). 
‘Many
societies view older people and older women in particular as a drain on
society... policy makers and practitioners need to envisage them not
only as recipients of protection and assistance, but also as agents of
change and development who can help identify solutions for the problems
affecting them.’ An elder passing down traditional crafts in Khon Kaen CONTENTS 1.
BACKGROUND
World Population is growing rapidly, but it is aging even more rapidly. In the last half century the world’s population more than doubled, from 2.5 to 6.7 billion. This figure is likely to increase by 2.5 billion over the next 42 years, reaching 9.2 billion in 2050. Over that time, half of the increase will be accounted for by people over the age of 60, whose numbers will almost triple, to reach over one billion. This accelerated aging process is even more dramatic in Asia, whose total population is predicted to grow from 3.7 billion in 2000 to 6.4 billion by 2050. In the same period, those over 60 may grow to reach 1.2 billion, a four-fold increase of present numbers. In countries where AUICK Associate Cities (AACs) are located, the proportion of the aged (over 60s) is predicted to range from about 9 per cent to 21.5 per cent by 2050. Population aging brings a shrinking of the workforce, an increasing social security burden, and major changes in family structure and health service systems – but elders increasingly have more time and longer life to contribute to society through their rich experience of life, and their technical skills and knowledge. Recent rapid urbanization and an increasing proportion of elderly citizens in urban areas will challenge national and local government capacities to provide not only economic security and access to good transportation, but also strong community-based support systems. UNFPA, one of AUICK’s sponsors, has developed Policy Guidelines on Aging to provide measures which can effectively respond to the needs, expectations and rights of older persons. They recommend the following: •
Focus on the older poor, in development and
poverty-reduction strategies; The right and appropriate approaches are needed, in order to maximize the development benefits of urbanization for older persons, while minimizing its negative impacts. The aim of the AUICK Second 2008 Workshop was to increase the capacities of senior officials of AACs in charge of policies and programs for the aged. In view of the UNFPA Policy Guidelines on Aging, the workshop was designed to improve participants’ knowledge about the urban policy implications of population aging. It aimed to increase understanding and know-how of administrative measures for the aged, through presentations by Kobe City and AAC officials, best practice case studies and site visits related to the theme. Special emphasis was placed on the active participation of the aged in society, and self-reliance oriented NGO activities. At the end of the Workshop, the participants each developed concrete Action Plans for appropriate administrative measures for the aged, to implement upon returning to their respective cities. AUICK invited senior officials of government planning, health and social welfare departments from the AACs: Weihai (China), Chennai (India), Surabaya (Indonesia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Faisalabad (Pakistan), Olongapo (Philippines), Khon Kaen (Thailand), and Danang (Vietnam). The participants included the following (in alphabetical order by country): Dr.
Sun Kailian <Accompanying
Interpreters> <Academic
Collaborators>
In his opening remarks to the Second 2008 Workshop, Dr. Hirofumi Ando welcomed participants on behalf of Mr. Tatsuo Yada, AUICK Chairman and Mayor of Kobe City, Mr. Toshihiko Ono, Executive Director, and Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto, Deputy Executive Director. Dr. Ando explained AUICK’s role as the facilitator of North-South and South-South dialogue among Kobe and the AUICK Associate Cities (AACs), whose sharing of experience in dealing with the issues affecting aged populations would enable lessons to be learned from the workshop and translated into policy implementation, through the Action Plan program. ted to population, development and the environment in Asian cities, in collaboration with UNFPA. 4.2. Presentations 4.2.1. Global,Regional and National Population Perspectives 
Dr. Hirofumi Ando,
President of AUICK 4.2.2. Measures against Population Aging and the Role of Local Government in Japan
4.2.3. Population Transition and Elderly Care Policies in Kobe City
4.2.4. Measures on Maintaining Physical and Mental Health and Physical Health Services for the Aged of Kobe City
4.2.5. Best Practice Report: Measures for the Aged in Khon Kaen
4.2.6. Management of the Aged through a Community Base
4.2.7. Population Aging in Asian Cities – UNFPA's Viewpoint and Activities
4.3. Site Visits 4.3.1. Facilities Related to Mental and Physical Health Services for the Aged On 28 October, the AUICK Second 2008 Workshop participants visited centers providing health care to the aged, Kobe Comprehensive Care Center for the Aged and Sun-life Uozaki Elderly Nursing Care Homes , and the World Health Organization (WHO) Kobe Centre, in the redeveloped HAT Kobe area, in the east of the city. 4.3.2 Organizations Supporting Active Elders On 29 October, the Second 2008 Workshop participants visited the Kobe City Silver Human Resources Center, a foundation coordinating employment and activity groups for the aged; the Kobe Silver College, a three-year educational institution to facilitate the active role in society of elder citizens; and Group ‘Wa’, which coordinates volunteer activities for the college graduates. Courtesy Call on Mayor of Kobe City On 31 October, the Second 2008 Workshop participants and members of AUICK’s International Advisory Committee (IAC) made a courtesy call on the Mayor of Kobe and Chairman of AUICK, Mr. Tatsuo Yada (seated front, center).  4.5. City Reports and Action Plans A key component of AUICK’s training program is the formulation of Action Plans for each of the AUICK Associate Cities (AACs). Participants devleop a plan of action to be implemented in their cities after the workshop. Throughout the workshop, knowledge is shared and lessons learned on the challenges faced and effective policies implemented in both Kobe City and the AACs. The aim of AUICK is for these ideas to be translated into actions for improving the welfare of AAC citizens. The plans also serve to both monitor and assess the effectiveness of the workshops and of the AUICK program as a whole. To be effective, the Action Plans need to define the problems to be solved in each city, and the proposed 'actions' learned from the workshop t osolve them. The plans should take into account the financial and personnel resources, and the political, social, educational and religious support available, so that they can each be feasibly and effectively implemented. NGOs working in the district or city and local media can be mobilized for public support. Technical and academic support may be also necessary to prepare a proposal in detail, especially if a new policy is to be formulated or statistical data is required. The AUICK fostered City University Partnerships (CUP) in its associate cities should be utilized and enhanced for this purpose. The participants of the Second 2008 Workshop were given guidelines on the formulation of their plans, to incorporate the following elements: 1) An introduction explaining manageable issue(s) to be solved and the practical measures to solve them, which are ‘do-able’ within a reasonable time period (12-18 months). 2) A list of sequential (sometimes simultaneous) administrative steps to be undertaken within or outside of the participant’s administration. The first of these steps would usually be meeting the mayor of the city, as well as supervisors and colleagues, for approval of and support to Action Plan. 3) Identification of the various resources and support to be mobilized for undertaking each step to implement the Action Plan. 4) Clarification of the aims, advocacy process, implementation area, stakeholders, responsible personnel, and time frame by which the Action Plan is to be achieved. 4.5.2. City Reports and Action Plans Following guidelines and advice on the formulation of their action plans, workshop participants were given time to draft, present and re-formulate their plans with the assistance of the AUICK Secretariat, members of the AUICK International Advisory Committee (IAC), resource persons and each other. The results are shown on the following pages: »
Weihai,
China by Dr. Sun Kailian 4.6. Second 2008 Workshop Closing Remarks> Throughout the Second 2008 Workshop, its participants provided feedback on each component of the program, to serve as a guide for the AUICK Secretariat on future workshop implementation. The presentations of the workshop were described as ‘instructive’ for the participants as city administrators, ‘rich information of health conditions of Kobe City’, ‘very informative’, ‘very appropriate’ and ‘enlightening’. Participants also said that the presentations provided an important chance for the sharing of relevant knowledge and information, and that some of the programs could be implemented in the AACs. Through workshop site visits, participants expressed being deeply impressed by the facilities and services offered to the elderly by Kobe City, as well as by the information gathered from the WHO Centre visit. The AAC City Reports provided the ‘useful experiences’ of the cities represented at the workshop, and the guidelines on formulation of Action Plans to improve the welfare of the aged populations in AACs were described as ‘very clear, and informative’. The plans were re-drafted and presented to members of AUICK’s International Advisory Committee (IAC), for further advice as to their implementation. This began upon the participants’ return from Kobe to their cities, and will be periodically monitored by the AUICK Secretariat. Workshop participants praised the UNFPA Seminar of 31 October for its citizen audience participation, and ‘AUICK’s role in aging and urban development was displayed fully to the public’ through the seminar. The comments and experience shared by IAC members at the seminar were deemed ‘very interesting and of high quality’. At its conclusion, participants expressed that ‘a good balance of lectures and practical training through field trips’, an ‘appropriate and informative’ level of training, and the ‘enhancement of knowledge and skills’ had been provided by the workshop program as a whole. |
Dr.
Jun Matsunami, Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation
Studies, Kobe University 
Mr.
Takeshi
Yamamoto, Manager, Senior Citizens’ Welfare Division,
Public Health and Welfare
Bureau, Kobe City Government 
Yasuto
Kawakami, M.D., Director of Public Health Center, Kobe City 
Dr.
Kasom Chanawongse,
President, College of Asian Scholars, Thailand
Dr.
Haryono Suyono, Member
of AUICK International Advisory Committee (IAC) 