Policy advocacy on aging
With Malaysia moving towards an aged nation status, UNFPA Malaysia has been actively involved in addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with this demographic shift through advocacy, policy reviews and policy dialogues. Recognizing the diverse needs and experiences of the aging population, we adopt a gender-responsive, rights-based, life-cycle approach in promoting policies that ensure older persons, including older women, can live with dignity and continue contributing to society. Our advocacy has led to the inclusion of ageing-specific policies in the 11th Malaysia Plan. As a member of the Government of Malaysia's committee to review population policies, UNFPA has contributed crucial data and insights to such policies by conducting population situation analyses.
Evidence-based data and research
Robust data and evidence-based approaches underpin our policies and interventions. UNFPA Malaysia invests in providing the Government of Malaysia and partners with the needed expertise and tools to analyse population dynamics. We also work with partners to expand research on population-related topics. Together with academics from Universiti Malaya and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, we are slated to publish a book on the demographics and socio-economic changes of Sarawak at the end of 2025 after previously publishing a similar book on Sabah in 2021
Capacity building and knowledge sharing
UNFPA Malaysia supports the country's population-related institutions by investing in capacity building initiatives. In 2024, we facilitated a knowledge-exchange session between the nation of South Korea with the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeingTM), a specialised research outfit under Universiti Putra Malaysia and also one of our implementing partners. MyAgeingTM is the Government of Malaysia's main reference point on ageing-related policies. We also supported the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to attend regional training sessions on census initiatives.
UNFPA Malaysia believes that inclusive population development must enable all to age with dignity, leaving no one behind.
