AKF Annual Report - Aga Khan Development Network

HEALTH
The Foundation plays a key role in developing ways to enable poor
communities, both rural and urban, to acquire the knowledge and skills
needed to protect and promote good health. It has been a pioneer
of community health efforts in India and Pakistan, has assisted health
sector reform in Tajikistan, helped rebuild the health infrastructure in
Afghanistan and Mozambique, and funded primary health-care facilities
in East Africa.
In all its undertakings, the Foundation promotes equitable health policies
and financing mechanisms that contribute to sustaining service delivery
and the provision of basic services. A particular focus is improving the
health status of vulnerable groups – especially women of childbearing
age and children under five – who live in geographically remote areas.
AKF health and education initiatives are
often coordinated to produce a more
sustainable effect on community health.
Women in Kyrgyzstan are in a dispensary
educating themselves by reading
various brochures.
AKF works to strengthen health-care systems by building the skills
of government and primary level health-care professionals. It also
contributes to health sector reform; the improvement of environmental
and household health through the provision of water, sanitation and
hygiene promotion and awareness-raising activities; the enhancement
of maternal and child health; the improvement of nutritional status; and
programmes to combat infectious diseases.
CIVIL SOCIETY
AKF’s broad definition of civil society extends beyond that of foreignfunded
NGOs. Through research, training, advice and funding, AKF
supports a variety of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that address
the common challenges of poor communities. The characteristics of
these organisations are developmental rather than purely charitable;
participatory; non-discriminatory; dedicated to orderly positive change;
and ready to support pluralism. Their activities have a positive impact
and clear public benefit.
To increase the impact and efficiency of these organisations, the
Foundation works to create what the Aga Khan has called an “enabling
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