What is the Aga Khan Foundation
The Aga Khan Foundation is a private, not‑for‑profit international development agency founded in 1967 by Aga Khan IV. It is one of the agencies of the larger Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The Foundation’s purpose is to address the root causes of poverty and support communities to carry out sustainable, locally‑driven initiatives that improve quality of life. For more than five decades, AKF has worked alongside communities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
What AKF Does — Main Areas of Activity
AKF works across several interconnected thematic areas of development — including agriculture and food security; civil society strengthening; climate resilience; early childhood development; education; health and nutrition; and work & enterprise. The aim is to help infants have a good start in life; ensure families are healthy and well‑nourished; give children and young people access to quality learning; and support adults to develop skills so they can gain employment or start their own businesses. AKF puts a special emphasis on equality of opportunity — especially for women and girls — and on building inclusive communities where all voices are valued. AKF also works with communities to build resilience against climate change, especially in rural, vulnerable, or resource‑poor areas.
Approach & Methodology
AKF’s approach is holistic and community‑driven: rather than just delivering services, the Foundation partners with local communities, civil society organisations, governments, and other stakeholders to co‑design and implement solutions that respond to community needs. The aim is long-term sustainability — to build local capacity so that communities can eventually manage development initiatives themselves without ongoing external support. Programs are informed by data, evidence, and local knowledge; efforts are frequently coordinated with other agencies in AKDN as well as public and private partners. AKF also supports innovation: using design, testing, and adaptation to ensure solutions are relevant, feasible, and scalable.
Global Reach & Impact
AKF operates in about 18 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and elsewhere. Its staff — the majority of whom are local to the regions where they work — bring local insight, cultural relevance, and trust to development work. Over the decades, AKF has reached millions of people annually through its programmes — across health, education, livelihood, early childhood development, agriculture, and community‑building efforts.
Values & Philosophy
AKF and the wider AKDN are founded on values of human dignity, compassion and solidarity with the less fortunate, self-reliance, pluralism, inclusion, and service to humanity. The Foundation aims to foster sustainable livelihoods, empower individuals and communities, and promote an equitable, inclusive, pluralistic society — regardless of faith, origin, or gender.
