- Aga Khan Development Network
The Aga Khan Development Network [http://www.akdn.org (AKDN)] is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Founded and guided by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the Network focuses on
health ,education ,culture ,rural development , institution-building and the promotion ofeconomic development . The AKDN is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. Its annual budget for not-for-profit endeavours is in excess of US$300 million. [cite press release |url=http://www.akdn.org/news/2007April17.htm |title=AKDN Profiles Kashmir Earthquake Reconstruction for UN-HABITAT |date=2007-04-17 |publisher=Aga Khan Development Network |accessdate=2007-04-23]The
Aga Khan Foundation [http://www.akdn.org/agency/akf.html (AKF)] , including theAga Khan Rural Support Programmes and theMountain Societies Development Support Programme , theAga Khan University [http://www.akdn.org/agency/aku.html (AKU)] ,Aga Khan Health Services [http://www.akdn.org/agency/akhs.html (AKHS)] ,Aga Khan Education Services [http://www.akdn.org/agency/akes.html (AKES)] , and theAga Khan Planning and Building Services [http://www.akdn.org/agency/akpbs.html (AKPBS)] , operate insocial development .The
Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development [http://www.akdn.org/agency/akfed.html (AKFED)] with its affiliates theTourism Promotion Services (TPS),Industrial Promotion Service (IPS), and Financial Services, seek to strengthen the role of theprivate sector in developing countries by supporting private sector initiatives in the development process. The Fund and the Foundation also encourage government policies that foster what the Aga Khan first called an "enabling environment" of favourable legislative and fiscal structures.The
Aga Khan Trust for Culture [http://www.akdn.org/agency/aktc.html (AKTC)] co-ordinates the Imamat's cultural activities. Its programmes include TheAga Khan Award for Architecture , the Historic Cities Support Programme, and the Education and Culture Programme. The Trust also provides financial support for theAga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture atHarvard University and theMassachusetts Institute of Technology in theUnited States .While each agency pursues its own mandate, all of them work together within the overarching framework of the Aga Khan Development Network so that their different pursuits can interact and reinforce one another. Their common goal is to help the poor achieve a level of self-reliance whereby they are able to plan their own livelihoods and help those even more needy than themselves. A central feature of the AKDN's approach to development is to design and implement strategies in which its different agencies participate in particular settings. To pursue their mandates, AKDN institutions rely on the energy, dedication, and skill of volunteers as well as remunerated professionals, and draw upon the talents of people of all faiths.
Agencies of the AKDN
*
Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
*Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS)
*Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM)
*Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED)
*Aga Khan Planning and Building Services (AKPBS)
*Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS)
*Aga Khan Education Services (AKES)
*Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)
*University of Central Asia (UCA)
*Aga Khan University (AKU)References
External links
* [http://www.akdn.org/ The Aga Khan Development Network website]
* [http://www.akdn.org/careercentre/index.php AKDN Career Centre]
* [http://www.agakhanfilm.org/ An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis - 1-hour film on the Aga Khan and his development work]
* [http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news_events/announcements/aga_khan.html Article about the Aga Khan and the AKDN an Columbia University's SIPA portal]
* [http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/akrsp Summary of the Ashden Award won by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Pakistan, for Micro-hydro power]
* [http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=20 The Global Development Network (GDN) works with research and policy … Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Chitral Pakistan More] (PDF, 130KB)
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.