Consultant on MIPAA review in Mongolia

Result of Service

To support designated ageing focal point and build capacities of line ministries and other agencies responsible for work on population ageing/older persons and support target country, which have requested support, in completing a review of its ageing policies and the voluntary national review of the MIPAA in preparation for the Fifth Review and Appraisal of the MIPAA. Additionally, to support the localization and contextualization of the ESCAP digital literacy toolkit for older persons to enhance digital inclusion of older persons in Mongolia. Moreover, draft a paper on active longevity centers in Mongolia.

Work Location

Mongolia and/or Remote

Expected duration

15/04/26-30/11/26

Duties and Responsibilities

The Asia-Pacific region is ageing rapidly with the percentage of people aged 65 years or over projected to increase from 10.8 per cent in 2025 to 19.4 per cent in 2050. Such demographic shift presents challenges and opportunities that require forward-looking policies to ensure inclusive and active ageing. In Mongolia, approximately 5.4 per cent of the population is aged 65 years or over in 2025, a proportion projected to nearly 12.6 per cent of the population by 2050. The Government amended the Law on Older Persons in 2024 (effective January 2025) and adopted the National Action Plan on Healthy Ageing (2025–2028) and the Joint Plan for Improving Long-Term Care (2025–2028). An intersectoral working group has been established to coordinate the national MIPAA report. Despite these advances, challenges persist in reaching older persons in rural and remote areas, where access to services and digital connectivity remain limited. In 2002, United Nations Member States adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), the global action plan to “build societies for all ages”. The MIPAA complements the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by providing detailed policy actions to ensure that older persons are not left behind. The MIPAA addresses three priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. Emerging issues, including the need to improve digital literacy and access to technologies for older persons, the impacts of climate change, and environmental degradation, and age-based discrimination, must also be addressed. Population ageing has a strong gender dimension. While men and women share certain common basic needs as they age, ageing-related policies should give special attention to older women in vulnerable situations. Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region have already designed policies on population ageing, but the policies differ in scope, effectiveness and implementation. Since the adoption of the MIPAA in 2002, there have been four regional and global reviews and appraisals. MIPAA is the global guiding document on population ageing adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002. It calls for regular and systematic reviews of MIPAA implementation by Member States at national, regional and global levels. After four successful reviews, the Economic and Social Council, through resolution 2025/8, endorsed the timeline for carrying out the fifth review and appraisal of MIPAA, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.5/2025/5). ESCAP will organize the Fifth Review and Appraisal in Asia and the Pacific, with support from other United Nations entities in the region in 2027, with the preparatory processes being undertaken through 2026. The voluntary national survey to member States is a crucial element of the review process and should guide national reviews. In preparing for the review of the MIPAA implementation at the national level, ESCAP is offering capacity-building to its member States upon request, in which a national consultant will support target member States in conducting national reviews and completing national voluntary surveys. The survey itself is a tool for member States to assess their status of implementation and identify country-specific gaps. A bottom-up approach involving stakeholders, including older persons themselves, should be applied for the national reviews. The national consultant for Mongolia will be expected to: 1) Work with the national ageing focal point to review the survey questionnaire and propose a plan of activities, including stakeholder consultations at national level, to complete the survey in a timely manner; 2) In coordination with the national focal point, compile a list of stakeholders to be involved in the review exercise; 3) Work with the national focal point and lead ministry to coordinate with relevant line ministries and stakeholders to collect relevant data (qualitative and quantitative), information and documents from their respective entities for use as inputs to the survey; 4) Attend and facilitate relevant technical and coordination meetings as required; 5) Support the national focal point in drafting and finalizing survey responses in a timely manner based on the data, information and documents obtained from all sources and through national consultation(s); 6) Support the national focal point in organizing a stakeholder consultation to validate the draft national survey response; 7) Support the national focal point in revising and finalizing the national survey response after the consultation, as appropriate; 8) Complete other tasks necessary to support the national focal point in the survey response process and national review; 9) Review the ESCAP digital literacy toolkit for older persons and translate toolkit materials to reflect the local language, cultural context and policy landscape, incorporating gender-responsive and disability-inclusive content; 10) Conduct a pilot session to test the localized toolkit with older persons and relevant stakeholders, and finalize the materials based on feedback received. A national consultant who is highly knowledgeable about population ageing, the situation of older persons, the Madrid International Plan of Actions on Ageing (MIPAA), and the 2030 Agenda, as well as the local context of Mongolia with excellent written and oral communication skills, is required to undertake these activities. Familiarity with local context and fluency in English and local language are required. Amendment 1: Many countries in Asia and the Pacific have successfully kick-started an array of initiatives of older persons’ centers and clubs catering to various socio-economic, emotional and health needs, based on different models and approaches, such as Active Longevity Hubs in Mongolia. Initially observed impacts of these centers on older persons, their families and communities are very promising. Collecting evidence more systematically from these experiences and analyzing it to identify key aspects of how to replicate, adapt, upscale such community and neighborhood based approaches within diverging country contexts - while making them as effective, inclusive and sustainable as possible - would provide countries with a key practical tool for advancing the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree in social sciences and related fields such as economics, demography, gerontology etc is required. Established record of policy-focused research and consultancy activities on population ageing and situation of older persons at the national level required. Background and understanding of population ageing and issues related older persons and track record of relevant work, projects or publications for international organizations required. Understanding of the Madrid International Plan of Actions (MIPAA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development an advantage.

Languages

Familiarity with local context and fluency in English and local language are required. Excellent analytical, written and social communication skills required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.