The aim of the course is to equip regional, national and local government officials (in decision-making and coordination roles), politicians, senior managers and media and communication specialists with the strategic vision, leadership skills and systems thinking perspective needed to build and strengthen effective intersectoral partnerships (including civil society, private sector and older people), foster shared accountability and drive transformative, coordinated action across the 4 action areas of the WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- apply a systems-thinking perspective to address the complexities of healthy ageing and long-term care across sectors and levels of government;
- understand health and social care systems as a complex adaptive system shaped by demographic change and its social, economic and policy implications;
- strengthen leadership competencies in strategic thinking, governance, policy influence, behavioural economics and partnership building;
- lead multisectoral and multilevel policy and programme development in the 4 action areas of the Ageing is Living Strategy;
- build and sustain cross-sectoral partnerships across health, social care, housing, transport, education, urban planning, communications and other relevant sectors; and
- communicate effectively to influence public opinion, tackle ageism and change narratives on age and ageing.
Course information
The course is designed for regional, national and local government officials, politicians and mid-to-senior managers who are responsible for developing or implementing policies and programmes in sectors that influence healthy ageing and long-term care. This includes, but is not limited to, health, social care, housing, transport, urban planning, education, as well as communication, digital health and technology sectors that impact older populations.
- Location: Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
- Date: 13–15 May 2026
- Delivery: In-person (40 participants), English language
- Qualification: A certificate of participation will be provided
Selection criteria
Candidates will be evaluated based on:
- current role in national, regional or local government with responsibilities influencing policies, programmes or strategies in sectors affecting healthy ageing and long-term care (such as health, social care, housing, transport, urban planning, education, communication, digital health or technology);
- demonstrated ability or potential to lead initiatives, influence others and contribute to multisectoral and multilevel projects;
- capacity to understand and address complex challenges affecting older populations using a multisectoral and systems perspective;
- experience in building partnerships and collaborating across sectors, levels of government or countries;
- interest in advancing the objectives of the Ageing is Living Strategy and willingness to apply learning to drive action in their professional context; and
- ability to identify challenges and propose practical, innovative solutions to promote healthy ageing.
Curriculum
The course is delivered in a hybrid format to maximize flexibility and impact.
- Pre-course online phase: foundational materials on leadership, multisectoral governance, behavioural economics and the Ageing is Living Strategy, with opportunities for virtual networking.
- Residential programme (3 days): intensive, in-person sessions featuring:
- plenary sessions with WHO experts and global leaders;
- breakout sessions exploring the 4 action areas of the Strategy;
- problem-based learning tackling real-world policy and leadership challenges;
- workshops on systems mapping and strategic thinking;
- leadership labs to build skills in negotiation and collaborative decision-making; and
- peer learning and mentoring to share experiences across diverse local, national, regional and global contexts.
Financial information and logistics
The course is provided free of charge and includes complimentary lunch and coffee breaks throughout the sessions as well as a welcome dinner. Participants are responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation and any additional costs related to their stay in Bilbao, Spain.
Visa information
Participants are responsible for obtaining any visas required to enter Spain. Upon request, an official acceptance letter to support an application can be provided.
Application process
Applications are open from 15 December 2025. The course is offered as a collaboration of the Nagusi Intelligence Center of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Division of Health Systems of the WHO European Office for Europe.
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by 16 January 2026.
Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel and successful applicants will be notified by 6 February 2026.
Background
The WHO European Region is experiencing a major demographic shift. For the first time, older adults (aged 65+) now outnumber children and adolescents (aged 15 and younger). This trend is set to intensify, with the proportion of people aged 60 and older projected to increase to 32.2% by 2050, while the cohort aged 85 and older is expected to more than double over the same period. Although the Region has some of the highest life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60 globally, there remains a substantial gap of over 5 years between total lifespan and years lived in good health. This indicates that many people are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives.
This demographic shift presents complex, interconnected challenges across health, social and economic systems. The rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, increasing demand for sustainable long-term care and the urgent need for age-friendly environments cannot be addressed through isolated interventions. Leaders at all levels face dynamic, non-linear systems in which local actions can produce cascading effects across multiple sectors. Effectively navigating this complexity requires a transition from operational management to strategic leadership, empowering “change-makers” to foster collaboration, design innovative policies and implement sustainable solutions that align diverse stakeholders and balance competing priorities.
The forthcoming WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being (2026–2030) sets out a clear vision for “Ageing is Living” through 4 interconnected action areas:
- prevention for lifelong health
- creating enabling environments
- transforming care systems
- challenging ageism
The Ageing is Living Leadership Course is a flagship initiative of the WHO European Region designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of mid- and senior-level government officials, politicians, media and communication specialists, and key stakeholders to support the implementation of the Strategy on Ageing is Living. It enhances participants’ ability to mobilize political commitment, engage stakeholders across sectors and design sustainable policies that promote healthy ageing throughout the Region.