The number of people aged 65 and over in Commonwealth countries is projected to rise from 231 million in 2019 to 559 million by 2050. There is a growing need to ensure that they also age well, living productive, healthy and fulfilling lives.
To advance this goal, CommonAge has partnered with Innovate UK and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). On Friday, 13 June 2025, a network of investors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders met in person, with some participating online, at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters at Marlborough House. Together, they discussed how they can create and fund sustainable solutions for health ageing through the CommonAge Living Well – Ageing Well Innovation Challenge.
CommonAge is one of the 90 accredited organisations that promote and work on Commonwealth values and principles.
In her welcome address to the gathering, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, reiterated the call to match “extended lifespans” with “extended wellbeing” as people in the Commonwealth are living longer. She stated:
“The Living Well-Ageing Well Innovation Challenge answers that call with imagination, ambition and hope. By unlocking the ingenuity of entrepreneurs, social enterprises and community innovators, it aims to deliver practical solutions that meet real needs.
“The Commonwealth Secretariat is proud to be a partner in this work. It is a key part of implementing the Commonwealth Roadmap for Ageing Well, and it demonstrates the potential of partnerships between governments, civil society, business and finance to advance the goals of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the Sustainable Development Agenda.”
The project aims to deliver on the vision of creating healthier, more inclusive societies, particularly in Lower and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as the Commonwealth undergoes a significant demographic shift, with populations ageing at an unprecedented rate.
A fresh take on healthy ageing for all: Creativity, ambition and collaboration
Speaking on the value of a partnership approach to achieving healthy life expectancy, the Founder and Chair (Emeritus), CommonAge Andrew Larpent, said:
“The challenge is a platform to galvanise governments, private enterprises, non-profits, technology companies, civil society and community organisations to contribute to transformative solutions for ageing populations. Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to set a global benchmark for supporting older persons, ensuring that they thrive in environments designed to meet their unique needs.”
George MacGinnis, the Challenge Director at UKRI, known as Innovate UK, also shared insights from their successful Healthy Ageing Challenge 2019-2024. It marked a significant advancement for the UK's older population by pooling innovators and investors for widespread impact.
The roundtable discussion featured robust contributions to support the implementation of the initiative across countries with diverse cultural contexts. Solutions included identifying community-based options accessible to grassroots individuals and harnessing technology for enhanced elderly care and wellbeing.
Niro Cooke, a board member of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, emphasised the importance of incorporating financial sustainability into health ageing models to ensure that elderly people can live independently with dignity.
Call to action: The task ahead
One of the core elements of the challenge is its five-year investment strategy, spanning from 2025 to 2030, which aims to mobilise substantial capital to drive innovation while ensuring a dual focus on achieving meaningful social impact and delivering reasonable financial returns for participating investors.
The Ageing Well Innovation Challenge will be launched on 1 October 2025, coinciding with the International Day for Older Persons.
Media contact
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
