Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento

30 – National Plan on Aging and Old Age

Brief description of the commitment: the commitment consists of developing and implementing the Third National Plan on Aging and Old Age as an instrument to guide, coordinate, and document Uruguayan public policies directed at older adults. The plan's central purpose will be the promotion and protection of the human rights of this population, recognizing its diversity and fostering its autonomy, active participation, and social inclusion. The effective and influential participation of older adults and their representative organizations will be promoted at all stages of the process.

Organization leading the commitment: Ministry of Social Development - National Institute for Older Persons (Inmayores).

Supporting institutions/organizations: National Secretariat for Human Rights (SND) (milestones 1, 4 and 5), Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) (milestone 1).

Responsible for the commitment: Marianela Larzábal, Director of the National Institute for Older Persons. Contact: secretaria.inmayores@mides.gub.uy.

Technical Manager: Soledad Acevedo. Contact: sacevedo@mides.gub.uy.

Actors:

1. Government: Ministry of Social Development, Social Welfare Bank, Ministry of Public Health, Congress of Mayors, University of the Republic, National Secretariat for Human Rights.

2. Civil Society: National Network of Organizations of Older People (Redam) and the National Organization of Associations of Retirees and Pensioners of Uruguay (Onajpu), Uni 3, Apex, Women with Stories, Association of Psychogerontology of Uruguay, Procuidados Network, ELEPEM Family Movement.

Implementation period: September 2025 to July 2029 .

Problem definition

What problem does the commitment intend to address?

Uruguay is experiencing a rapid aging of its population, which particularly impacts women—reflecting a feminization of old age—and the oldest individuals within the older population, a phenomenon known as super-aging. This demographic transformation, which has been developing steadily for decades and has intensified in recent years, entails a profound shift in the demands placed on public policies. Increasingly, people require responses from the State that promote their autonomy, quality of life, and the full exercise of their rights. In this context, it is becoming ever more crucial that older adults have an effective influence on the definition, implementation, and monitoring of the policies that affect them.

What are the causes of the problem?

The fragmentation of public policies aimed at older adults, along with their uncoordinated implementation, stems from weak inter-institutional and inter-sectoral coordination. This situation arises from the lack of an institutional culture that promotes participatory and comprehensive governance of aging, particularly affecting a population that has accumulated inequalities throughout their lives. As a result, policies are inconsistent with their scope, hindering public monitoring.

Description of the commitment

What has been done so far to solve the problem?

Two previous plans were implemented, between 2013-2015 and 2016-2019, which laid the groundwork for a public agenda on aging. These plans, developed with the participation of public agencies and civil society organizations, promoted a rights-based approach and highlighted the needs of older persons. Thanks to these plans, significant progress was made in institutional strengthening, awareness-raising, training, and the effective exercise of rights, such as the consolidation of an agenda on aging, increased visibility of inter-institutional work in the region, and the ratification of the Inter-American Convention. Civil society also played an active role, albeit with limitations, in promoting these rights.

What solution does it propose?

This instrument will guide public policies toward a dignified, active, and fulfilling old age, promoting autonomy and the exercise of rights. The process will boost the leading role of Inmayores and foster collaboration among the various sectors involved. It will also promote the effective participation of older adults and their representative organizations at all stages of the process, recognizing them as active agents in shaping policies that respond to their realities and aspirations. The plan will establish verifiable goals, indicators, and public monitoring mechanisms for results-based management.

What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment?

The implementation of this commitment seeks to coordinate inter-institutional and inter-sectoral actions to promote and guarantee the rights of older persons. This includes fostering their autonomy, ensuring equitable access to comprehensive services and care, and promoting their effective participation, always under a cross-cutting approach that considers rights, gender, and life course.

The aim is to strengthen institutional capacities in the planning, coordination, and monitoring of policies for older adults. Likewise, efforts will be made to establish mechanisms for sustained participation that ensure the real influence of older persons on public policy.

Finally, this commitment also seeks to consolidate a culture of open government, promoting transparency, citizen participation and collaboration between the State and civil society in the different phases of the process.

Commitment analysis

How will the commitment promote transparency?

The commitment will incorporate public mechanisms for monitoring the Plan, guaranteeing transparency and having access to information through the periodic publication of progress reports, timelines, institutional representatives, and monitoring indicators. This information will be available on public digital platforms, such as the Open Government Observatory, facilitating citizen oversight. In this way, citizens will have clear, up-to-date, and verifiable access to the progress and implementation of public policies on aging and old age within the framework of the Third Plan, consistent with the pillars of open government.

How will the commitment help foster accountability?

The Third National Plan on Aging and Old Age will incorporate planning, management, and monitoring tools that allow for effective tracking of goal achievement through clear indicators, timelines, defined budgets, and assigned institutional responsibilities; enabling the evaluation of compliance with the commitments made.

Opportunities for dialogue between citizens and responsible agencies will be promoted, including public accountability to the Advisory Councils for Older Persons. This will boost institutional accountability, continuous improvement, and the legitimacy of the process.

How will the commitment improve citizen participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions?

The commitment envisions a broad national co-creation process, with the active participation of agencies, civil society organizations, and academia. Participatory mechanisms will be developed by using methodologies to gather input from diverse territorial and social contexts. Citizen participation will be promoted not only in the plan's design, but also in its implementation and monitoring, through mechanisms such as Advisory Councils for Older Persons and spaces for inter-institutional dialogue and engagement with civil society. This will allow for the collective development of solutions, incorporating the essential contributions of those who experience old age firsthand.