A Unique Response to Development Challenges
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AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A. An agency of the Aga Khan Development Network A UNIQUE RESPONSE TO DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES WHAT MAKES The Foundation works in some of the world’s poorest countries, often in remote and resource-poor AGA KHAN FOUNDATION regions, helping the most vulnerable, especially women and children. U.S.A. UNIQUE? 100 percent of the funds raised go directly to projects supported by the Foundation in countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania and Tajikistan. All administrative costs of Aga Khan Founda- tion U.S.A. are funded from its own resources. The Foundation is part of a larger network, the Aga Khan Development Network – the largest private network of its kind – combining the expertise and experience of nonprofit and for-profit agencies. WHAT IS THE We believe in a helping hand, not a hand-out; and encourage people to participate actively in their FOUNDATION’S APPROACH own development. TO DEVELOPMENT? We concentrate on five essentials: health, education, rural development, environment and strengthening non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations to build local capacity that leads toward self-reliance. We collaborate with public and private partners. We invite independent evaluations of our projects and believe in sharing our learning experiences with the international development community. WHAT ARE SOME Broader access to quality education, especially girls. OF THE FOUNDATION’S PROGRAMMATIC Better health care through immunization, safe motherhood and improved health care systems. OBJECTIVES? Improved infrastructure that generates greater incomes and new jobs. Rapid transition from humanitarian assistance to private, market-oriented agricultural programs that improve productivity of local farmers. Strengthen civil society by improving the skills and access to resources for community organizations. AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A. An agency of the Aga Khan Development Network IMPACT OF CHANGE For a quarter century, AKF USA has been investing in people, extending a helping hand to communities and individuals so they may live with dignity and hope. Your sponsorship can make a tremendous impact on saving lives, educating children and helping families to lift themselves out of poverty. Here’s a glimpse at how far your contribution actually goes. 3 million people have benefited directly from the Aga Khan After civil war in Tajikistan, AKF’s agricultural reform program Foundation’s rural support programs worldwide, with indirect brought new land into production with the construction of beneficiaries reaching close to 12 million people in over irrigation channels and improved productivity with better 8,400 village organizations. farming techniques, enhanced seed varieties and crop diversification. in eastern Tajikistan, food self-sufficiency Aga Khan Health Services cares for 1.8 million people increased dramatically from 15% in 1993 to 80% by 2002. annually and employs 8,000 staff, operating 320 medical facilities in East Africa, South and Central Asia, including In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AKF’s primary health care clinics, diagnostic centers, women’s programs in agricultural development and microfinance in hospitals and referral hospitals. the West African country of Mali are helping to improve the quality of life for 250,000 Malians by building food security in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, over 260,000 students along and increasing agricultural revenues. with their parents and teachers have benefited from AKF’s School improvement Program. In Afghanistan, AKF’s activities center on training teachers, especially women, encourage parents to send their girls Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance disbursed more than to school; set up community-based classrooms that 200,000 loans to poor and low-income households in 2008, allow children in remote rural areas to attend school; and amounting to $140 million. These loans help build businesses, form school management committees where parents and improve living standards and provide a pathway out of poverty. community members get involved in running the schools. AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A. An agency of the Aga Khan Development Network Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. partners with other like-minded institutions dedicated to international development, sharing lessons learned and collaborating on programs. The Foundation also works together with local and national governments. As an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, the Foundation coordinates closely with its sister agencies, each of which has experience and expertise in various fields. OUR PARTNERS IN CHANGE Institutions that AKF USA collaborates with include: American Institutes for Research Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Citigroup Foundation Flora Family Foundation Ford Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Johns Hopkins University Johnson & Johnson Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Microsoft Corporation Pfizer inc. Rockefeller Foundation United States Agency for International Development United States Department of Agriculture United States Department of State • The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. • The AKDN is a network of private, nondenominational, development agencies operating in over 30 countries, established by His Highness the Aga Khan. The AKDN seeks to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, improve living conditions and opportunities. His Highness the Aga Khan is the Photo credit: © Aga Khan Foundation / Jean-Luc Ray Founder and Chairman of the Board and 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. • AKDN is committed to promoting pluralistic societies • The overarching goal of the AKDN’s programs is to help and nurturing civil society. poor communities achieve a level of self-reliance whereby • AKDN, the largest private network of its kind, uses an they are able to plan their own futures and help those even integrated approach that combines social, economic more disadvantaged than themselves. and cultural development. • The Network’s agencies work for the common good of • Engagement in cultural development is one of its most all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion unique aspects among development efforts. Other and its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for organizations are doing work in culture preservation, the vulnerable of society. but integrating architecture and culture as an area of • The AKDN agencies make a long-term commitment to the responsibility and an area of development is a distinctive areas in which they work, guided by the philosophy that characteristic of the AKDN. a humane, sustainable environment must reflect the • The AKDN has thousands of dedicated volunteers, low-cost choices made by people themselves in harmony with their operations, and transparent management as well as a solid environment. Sustainability is a central consideration from grassroots presence in developing countries and openness the outset of every AKDN initiative. to innovative ideas and best practices. AKDN’s agencies include: • 3 foundations: Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, and Aga Khan Trust for Culture • 3 nonprofit service agencies: Aga Khan Education Services, Aga Khan Health Services, Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, Aga Khan Academies and Focus Humanitarian Assistance • 2 universities: Aga Khan University and University of Central Asia • 1 economic development fund: Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development The AKDN employs approximately 80,000 people, the majority of whom are based in developing countries. The AKDN’s annual budget for non-profit development activities in 2010 was $650 million. The project companies of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) generate annual revenues of $2.3 billion (all surpluses are reinvested in further development activities). AKFED has 90 companies and 35,000+ employees, demonstrating it is possible to operate for- profit, ethics-driven enterprises in challenging environments. AKDN works in concert with local and national government, donors, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and communities to implement strategies that contribute to the development of an economically dynamic, politically stable, culturally tolerant and intellectually vibrant society. www.akdn.org.