Aga Khan Development Network

✨ In an era marked by division and fear, pluralism offers hope. Pluralism is a practical, proven framework for unity, resilience and prosperity. It is the belief that our differences, rather than dividing us, can be the very source of our collective strength. Watch this short video, where Meredith Preston McGhie, Secretary General of the Global Centre for Pluralism, explains why pluralism is more important than ever. 👉 Read the full article here: the.akdn/en/resources-m…

💧In Afghanistan, around 21 million people do not have enough water for drinking, cooking and hygiene. The country is facing a growing crisis that is increasing humanitarian needs and putting already precarious livelihoods at risk. In remote mountain areas like Wakhan in Badakhshan and parts of Bamyan, getting water is especially difficult. Many communities are located high above springs or rivers, so gravity-fed systems do not work and expensive pumping is needed. Water sources are also seasonal. Springs may flow in summer but diminish or dry up in winter. An EU-funded WaSH programme led by AKF and AKAH is helping vulnerable households access safe water and sanitation while building awareness of healthy hygiene practices. The programme aims to reach more than 75,000 people by rehabilitating water points, restoring wells and upgrading solar-powered and gravity-fed water supply systems. With more reliable access to safe water, communities are seeing fewer illnesses, less time spent collecting water and more opportunities for education and livelihoods. @AKF_Global #Afghanistan #WaterAccess #ClimateResilience #CommunityDevelopment #PublicHealth

In countries where people have urgent basic needs, why is it worthwhile for development agencies to invest in cultural heritage? From jobs and skills to identity and international recognition, the benefits of restoring ancient sites ripple far beyond the work itself. 📷 Watch the video to see how.

When breast cancer is detected early, survival rates can exceed 90 percent. But in remote parts of Kyrgyzstan, many women are diagnosed much later, when treatment becomes far more difficult. Through the Foundations for Health and Empowerment programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Health Services in Kyrgyzstan, AKDN is working with national partners to bring care closer to communities. In Naryn, Jalal-Abad and Osh, this has included community awareness sessions, screening days, training for local health workers and volunteers, telemedicine consultations linking rural doctors to oncologists in Bishkek and counselling for women and their families. By the end of 2025, more than 40,000 women had been screened across the three regions, with those needing further examination referred to regional and national oncology centres. “Early detection saves lives. But only if people can access care, trust it and feel supported every step of the way.” - Aida Sultangazieva @AKF_Global 🔗 Read more: the.akdn/en/resources-m… #Kyrgyzstan #BreastCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #WomenHealth #Telemedicine

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) was honoured to welcome Diana Fox Carney, economist, policy expert and spouse of the Canadian Prime Minister, in Delhi on 2 March. Guided by Ratish Nanda, CEO of AKTC in India, she visited Sunder Nursery, Humayun’s Tomb and the Museum and was briefed on the organisation’s wider revitalisation projects and their socio-economic impact. She was accompanied by Karen Blumenschein, spouse of the Canadian High Commissioner. #Delhi #HumayunsTomb #SunderNursery #CulturalHeritage #HeritageConservation #GlobalPartnerships

His Highness the Aga Khan has committed $100 million over the next five years to combat malnutrition, joining global philanthropists, governments and development partners in solidarity with the ‘11.5: Edge of Life’ campaign, organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), which aims to save over 35 million children from preventable hunger and malnutrition. Prince Aly Muhammad sent a video message on the occasion. His Highness the Aga Khan is honoured to join His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, alongside philanthropists, international organisations, and business leaders, in addressing one of the world’s most urgent development challenges. The commitment marks a significant expansion of the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) long-standing work to improve nutrition and food systems across Asia and Africa. In the first year of his Imamat, His Highness has more than doubled AKDN’s financial commitment to nutrition, building on existing work in Africa and approving the expansion of the Central Asia Stunting Initiative in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Tajikistan. Together with these ongoing programmes, AKDN will devote approximately $100 million over the next five years to efforts aimed at preventing malnutrition and strengthening nutrition systems in vulnerable communities. “Malnutrition remains one of the greatest barriers to human development, undermining the health, potential, and dignity of millions of children and families. Addressing this challenge requires sustained commitment and collective action across sectors and societies. I am honoured to join partners around the world in supporting efforts to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow, thrive and contribute to their communities,” His Highness said in a statement.

This International Women's Day, see how quality childcare creates wins for everyone. From Nairobi to Lisbon, AKF's work shows that when mothers can work and children can learn, entire communities prosper. @AKF_Global #InternationalWomensDay #Childcare #WomenEmpowerment #Portugal #Kenya

Ahead of International Women's Day 2026, meet the women of Syria’s emergency response teams, a network of trained responders supporting communities during disasters and local crises. A new chapter of community-led resilience is emerging across the country. Women are stepping into frontline emergency roles once dominated by men, transforming how communities prepare for and respond to crises. Since 2014, the Aga Khan Foundation’s Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) have grown from a small volunteer initiative into a nationwide network of trained responders supporting communities during emergencies, disasters, and local crises. They work hand-in-hand with municipal authorities, who rely on them as trusted local partners. 🎥 In this video, hear from Fardous Shahin, one of the women volunteers who now make up half of the CERT responders. @AKF_Global #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInLeadership #WomenResponders #CommunityResilience #Syria

Yesterday, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) was honoured to welcome former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Humayun’s Tomb, the Museum and Sunder Nursery. The AKTC team had the pleasure of guiding her through the restored monument and its rich heritage. Her visit reflects the longstanding collaboration between Germany and the Aga Khan Development Network across Afghanistan, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. We also recall Mrs Merkel’s meetings with His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in Berlin in 2007 and 2009, moments that underscored this shared commitment. A meaningful day celebrating partnership in development, heritage and global cooperation. #HumayunsTomb #GlobalPartnerships #India #WorldHeritage #Germany

His Highness the Aga Khan has donated $1 million in humanitarian aid to victims of the floods that are ravaging mainly southern Mozambique. Latest official data show that more than 860,000 people have been affected, with lives lost, tens of thousands displaced, and widespread destruction of agricultural production affecting hundreds of thousands of farmers. The support will help address shortages of essential medicines, improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and provide agricultural resources to help families resume food production and rebuild their livelihoods, with a focus on Gaza province, one of the areas most severely affected by the floods. The Aga Khan Foundation will implement the programme in coordination with national authorities and local partners. In recent weeks, the Ismaili Imamat, through its entities AKDN and the Ismaili communities in Mozambique and Portugal, has already launched an aid programme, distributing 45 tonnes of essential goods, including food, clothing, hygiene kits, tents and other essential items. The final 13 tonnes, including 200 family tents and 500 food and hygiene kits, are being distributed in coordination with the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) and under the high patronage of the country’s First Lady. @AKF_Global #Mozambique #HumanitarianRelief #FloodResponse #AKF #Portugal

🌍 From strengthening global partnerships to frontline solutions in climate resilience, agriculture and education – this month’s AKF newsletter highlights the positive impact of long-term, locally-grounded development in communities around the world. Highlights include the renewed UK–AKF–AKDN partnership agreement on shared priorities like climate action and women’s empowerment; the climate challenges facing farmers in Syria; community-led water solutions in Afghanistan; adaptation in Pakistan; and inspiring stories like a Tanzanian teacher transforming early childhood learning. ➡️ Read the full newsletter: mailchi.mp/akdn/akf-feb-26 💌 Not subscribed yet? Sign up at akf.org to stay connected.

Last week, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture hosted a series of high-level international delegations at Humayun’s Tomb and its World Heritage Site Museum during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Among the distinguished visitors were António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia; Her Serene Highness Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein; and Brigitte Macron, along with a delegation from France. During each visit, Mr Nanda provided an overview of more than two decades of conservation, landscape restoration and community-centred development undertaken in close collaboration with the Government of India, @UNESCO and a wide network of partners and donors. The delegations toured the Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum, inaugurated in 2024. This pioneering, purpose-built subterranean museum was designed to preserve the historic landscape while offering cutting-edge museography. Its immersive displays present archaeological material, conservation research, temporary exhibitions and educational programmes, enabling a deeper understanding of the monument and its setting. Mr Nanda also introduced visitors to the broader Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative, which integrates heritage conservation with improvements in education, health, livelihoods and public spaces for local communities. 🔗 Read more: the.akdn/en/resources-m… #HumayunsTomb #Nizamuddin #WorldHeritage #SustainableDevelopment

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has announced that graduates from eight highly ranked medical schools around the world, including AKU’s Medical College in Pakistan, can now apply to practice medicine in Singapore. Medical doctors trained at AKU, whether they graduate before or after 2026, can apply for registration with the Singapore Medical Council to practice medicine, subject to meeting its requirements. The new accreditation adds to a growing number of destinations that AKU medical graduates can consider when deciding where to build their careers and apply their learning. “An AKU medical education equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to be change makers and to succeed globally,” said Professor Karim Damji, dean of AKU’s Medical College in Pakistan. AKU’s MBBS degree is fully recognised in Pakistan and provides a strong, globally respected foundation for postgraduate training and medical practice internationally. Graduates are eligible to pursue licensure pathways in many countries and regions including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and now Singapore. @MOHSingapore @AKUGlobal #AKUMedicalCollege #MedicalEducation #GlobalRecognition #Singapore