About page
Established in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) brings together human, financial and technical resources to address the challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life.
AKF works primarily in six areas with gender equality and inclusion mainstreamed throughout all programmes: Agriculture and Food Security; Economic Inclusion; Education; Early Childhood; Health and Nutrition; and Civil Society.
AKF’s objectives for its programming include as follows:
- Ensure tangible food security, agricultural development and sustainable natural resource management
- Improve the economic well-being of women and men, particularly youth
- Equip girls, boys and young adults with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to help them interact effectively with the world and contribute to society
- Ensure boys and girls have a good start in life by influencing the context and environments in which they are growing
- Enable individuals and communities to optimise their health and well-being and reach their full potential
- Develop resilient, pluralistic and values-based civil societies that demonstrate great competency, legitimacy, accountability and sustainability
For over 50 years, AKF has worked in some of the most remote parts of Asia and Africa to partner with communities to improve the quality of life for decades and generations. AKF is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland but is largely field-based with programme units located in Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Kenya, the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Uganda.
AKF has helped to pioneer the Multi-Input Area Development (MIAD) approach, which leverages the capabilities of multiple AKDN agencies and their expertise in order to deliver social, economic and cultural interventions together in targeted geographies to accelerate development over time.
Central to AKF’s efforts have been inclusive, community-based development approaches, where local organisations identify, prioritise and implement projects with AKF’s assistance. Once community organisations have started providing services, AKF expands the programme by establishing village organisations elsewhere. AKF then links them with local governments and local, regional, and global partners.
Most AKF activities are implemented by local organisations interested in testing new solutions, learning from experience and being agents of lasting change. However, if no established group exists, AKF occasionally supports the formation of new organisations to tackle issues of importance to the community and in line with AKF’s mission. AKF generally maintains long-term involvement in building social institutions, and thus is able to make commitments to communities as well as carry through changes in attitudes, behaviours and organisational abilities, which require a longer time horizon.
Gathering data on the scale, scope and impact of AKF's programming is an integral part of AKF's efforts to assess, understand its footprint and improve its approaches. Within each AKF project, data is collected to understand the extent to which targets have been met and how communities are experiencing improvements in their lives.
The Foundation is largely an implementing organisation rather than a grant-making foundation. It receives grant funding from numerous development agencies, private foundations and corporations; raises funds locally in annual events in North America and Western Europe; and receives funding from His Highness the Aga Khan. In addition, an endowment contributes towards its operating costs.
