Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Age International has a rights-based mission. We strive for a world that is fairer, more just and more equitable. This guides us, both within our organisation, and for the communities and individuals we work alongside.

We know that we live in a world shaped by inequalities that are global and deeply entrenched. They affect each one of us professionally and personally in different and harmful ways. They include - but are not limited to - ageism, racism, sexism, and ableism*.

We also recognise that the work we do is rooted in the history of the economic and power imbalances of colonialism, and that this affects our relations with our partners and older people.

However, simply being aware of discrimination and injustice is not enough. As an organisation and as individual staff members, we are committed to proactively addressing them. This is why Age International seeks to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across our work. These principles are essential to realising our vision of a world where every older person feels valued and included.

Our commitments:

• Respecting older people in all their diversity, recognising that ageism intersects with other forms of discrimination*. 
  
  
• Challenging our own biases and privileges, as individuals and as an organisation.
  
  
• Creating an inclusive, safe and supportive workplace that values all of us, embracing the strength and innovation that diversity brings.
  
  
• Partnering with older people, HelpAge International and local organisations to co-create programmes that reflect and uphold our DEI principles, with a focus on enabling localisation. 
  
  
• Leveraging our advocacy, policy engagement and communications to challenge discriminatory structures and power imbalances, amplifying older people’s voices with decision makers and the public.
  
  
• Being accountable for our actions, including learning from and responding to constructive feedback.

To help make this a reality, we’ve woven our DEI commitments through our organisational strategies and plans, and into our individual objectives.

Every one of us, as individuals and when we come together as Age International, has a responsibility and a role to play. Together, we embrace this opportunity to make the world a better place - where every individual’s experience, perspective and potential is valued.

October 2025 

(*In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, it is against UK law to discriminate against anyone on the basis of any of the following 9 ‘protected characteristics’: age; disability; gender reassignment; being married or in civil partnership; being pregnant or on maternity leave; race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation).