AKF Annual Report - Aga Khan Development Network

OVERVIEW
AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
The Aga Khan Foundation is part of the Aga Khan Development Network
(AKDN). Founded and guided by His Highness the Aga Khan, the AKDN
brings together a number of international development agencies, institutions
and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of South and
Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. All AKDN agencies conduct their
programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.
The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance works to expand access for the
poor to a wider range of financial services, including micro-insurance, small
housing loans, savings, education and health accounts. Its programmes
range from village lending cooperatives to self-standing microfinance banks
in South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Aga Khan Education Services aims to diminish obstacles to educational
access, quality and achievement. It operates more than 300 schools and
advanced educational programmes at the pre-school, primary, secondary
and higher secondary levels in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic,
Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Uganda. It emphasises student-centred
teaching methods, field-based teacher training and school improvement.
Aga Khan Health Services provides primary and curative health care
in Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Tanzania in over 200
health centres, dispensaries, hospitals, diagnostic centres and community
health outlets. Annually, AKHS provides primary health care to 1.8 million
beneficiaries and handles 1.5 million patient visits. AKHS also works with
governments and other institutions to improve national health systems.
Gender is an integral and cross-cutting
concern in all areas of AKF’s work. The
Aga Khan Education Services focuses
on culturally relevant, student-centred
learning activities: Chess is a popular game
in Kyrgyzstan and helps develop children’s
logical thinking abilities. Focus Humanitarian
Assistance constructed a pump house in
post-conflict Afghanistan to supply 800
families with clean tap water.
Aga Khan Planning and Building Services assists communities with village
planning, natural hazard mitigation, environmental sanitation, water supply
systems and improved design and construction of both housing and
public buildings. It provides material and technical expertise, training and
construction management services to rural and urban areas.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture encompasses the triennial Aga Khan
Award for Architecture; the Historic Cities Programme, which undertakes
conservation and rehabilitation in ways that act as catalysts for development;
the Music Initiative, which preserves and promotes the traditional music of
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