This policy brief was written for Help Age International and presented at the ILO Regional Africa Conference. This briefing note will assess the status of older people in Africa’s economy in light of four strategic objectives (promoting jobs, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection and promoting social dialogue), reinforcing an often overlooked fact--that older people contribute extensively to an economy through capacity building, experience and knowledge transmission and play a key role in community stability and bridging inter-generational gaps.