BackgroundIn the context of population ageing and urbanisation, a growing number of cities are adopting the WHO's Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) framework, which incorporates eight interlinking domains. This study set out to design an evidence-based instrument to assess interventions intended to make urban settings more age-friendly.MethodsFieldwork is taking place in Liverpool, UK. A needs assessment used census, Hospital Episode Statistics, and Ambulance Service data and highlighted falls as a local health priority for older people (65 years or older). Health, environmental, and social science databases (including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify systematic reviews from Jan 1, 2000, to July 31, 2014, in English that described effective falls-related interventions. Examples of keywords for age were old* people* OR old person* OR age* 65* OR elder*. Examples for review were systematic review* OR narrative review* OR integrated review* OR review*. Examples for falls were fall* OR outdoor safety OR trip hazard*. Interviews with key informants (n=12) from different sectors as well as interviews (n=20) and focus groups (n=2, 10 participants each) with older people on falls-related provision are proceeding. The research is informing the development of an evidence-based evaluation instrument that can be applied to settings and interventions more widely. The instrument will be pilot-tested for usability, with in-depth validation planned for a further project phase.FindingsAnalysis of available data has shown a high incidence of and case fatality from falls, and it has revealed common causes and locations of falls in Liverpool. The effective falls-related interventions identified were mapped onto the WHO domains to highlight important areas of provision. Strongly represented were interventions that relate well to the domains of Community Support and Health Services and Housing (eg, home modifications). The domains of Outdoor Spaces and Buildings and Transportation were identified as important areas for provision, although the evidence base was more limited. Analysis of qualitative data is exploring whether this pattern is reflected in Liverpool's falls-related provision. The evidence mapping, together with the primary data, allows presentation of a picture of strengths and gaps in falls-related provision in Liverpool in relation to the AFC domains.InterpretationData collection has highlighted key dimensions to be incorporated in the evaluation instrument. These dimensions include consideration of the extent to which AFC initiatives are informed by a needs assessment and robust research evidence, political will, availability of resources, attention to target group perspectives, and plans for evaluation.FundingThis project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Public Health Research (SPHR) as part of SPHR's Ageing Well programme of research.