Mobilising Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in Creating Age-Friendly Cities: Case Studies from Akita and Manchester

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Urban Planning
• Public Policy

Background:

• Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) are a growing policy focus for supporting global ageing populations.
• Effective AFCC programs depend on cross-sectoral collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
• Understanding the drivers of collaboration within AFCC initiatives is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the mechanisms driving cross-sectoral collaboration in Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
• To provide empirical insights into successful collaboration strategies for AFCC development.

Main Methods:

• Comparative case study design involving Akita (Japan) and Manchester (UK).
• Data collection through secondary source review, semi-structured interviews, and fieldwork.
• Thematic analysis of insights into cross-sectoral collaboration mobilization.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: leadership and influencing, co-production, and place-based working.
• Co-production and place-based working are crucial for delivering AFCC programs.
• Effective collaboration relies on strong leadership and influencing strategies.

Conclusions:

• A combination of leadership, co-production, and place-based working is recommended for mobilizing cross-sectoral collaboration.
• These integrated mechanisms are essential for creating successful AFCCs and promoting healthy ageing.
• Future AFCC development should strategically employ these three collaborative mechanisms.