Aga Khan Foundation Canada

Education beyond COVID-19
2022-09-15 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Join a conversation about the future of education systems.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HYBRID EVENT, OFFERING OPTIONS FOR IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION. PLEASE BE SURE TO SELECT YOUR PREFERENCE AS YOU REGISTER. PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE.
Since its onset, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life. For the education sector, the pandemic disrupted education systems, increased inequalities, and exacerbated existing issues in global education, particularly affecting the most vulnerable learners. As communities continue to work towards greater sustainability and resilience, understanding COVID-19’s socioeconomic impacts is crucial to improving livelihoods and developing well-functioning and durable institutions and systems.
On September 15, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) welcomes you to join a conversation on the future of education systems. The event will highlight a recent education policy paper developed by Dr. Fernando Reimers and his students (Farhan Karim, Cecelia Scheuer, Ishani Parekh, and Nathalia Trujillo) from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
The paper was selected to be a chapter (Ch. 5) in an edited publication entitled Advancing a New Social Contract for Education. The resulting book was featured on UNESCO’s website and featured a forward by Stefania Giannini, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education.
The paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of gender-responsive primary education for girls in Kenya, within the Foundations for Education and Empowerment project in East Africa funded by Global Affairs Canada and AKFC.
What to Expect:
This hybrid event will include a brief presentation by the co-authors of the paper, followed by a moderated panel discussion with leading experts in the field of international education policy.
We will explore the following key questions:

What is the future of education and why is this so important today?
Why should Canadians care about the quality of education abroad?
What are the parallels between the current challenges and the future opportunities for education in East Africa and in North America?
What are the societal forces that have prompted a need to articulate a future of education?
What has COVID-19 meant for the realization of this vision?
How does one achieve global consensus on these priorities in an increasingly polarized and fractured political global landscape?

Key Information for Attendees:

When you register, please indicate your interest to attend in-person at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat or to attend online (Zoom) by selecting the relevant ticket option.
Please note that proof of vaccination will be required to join in person.
In-person attendees are welcome to arrive by 8:40 am, to network and enjoy light refreshments.

Moderator:
Khalil Z. Shariff
CEO, Aga Khan Foundation Canada
Panelists:
Dr. Fernando Reimers
Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice of International Education and Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at Harvard University
Dr. Reimers is an expert in the field of global education. His research and teaching focus on understanding how to educate children and youth so they can thrive in the 21st century. Dr. Reimers was a member of UNESCO’s Commission on the Futures of Education, which published the report Reimagining Our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education. He has developed curriculum aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which used in schools throughout the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has led numerous comparative studies examining the educational consequences of the pandemic and identifying options to sustain educational opportunity and to build back better.
He directs the Global Education Innovation Initiative, a cross-country research and practice collaborative focusing on education for the 21st century, and has written or edited 45 books.
Louise Holt
Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development Branch, Global Affairs Canada
Louise Holt obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics and Comparative Development Studies from Trent University in 1989. She later completed her Masters in Public Administration from Carleton University in 1995 and joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2002. At Headquarters, she has served as the Deputy Director, Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights (2002-2005); as Director, Social Development Policy (2005 to 2009); and as Director, Sector and Thematic Specialist Division (2009 to 2012) at the Canadian International Development Agency. She has served overseas in Nairobi from 2012 to 2014 and in Pretoria from 2014 to 2016 as Counsellor and Director of Development. From 2016 to 2018, Ms. Holt served as Director General, Canadian Partnerships for Health and Social Development and as Director General, Partnership for Gender Equality from 2018-2020. She is currently Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development Branch.
With closing remarks from:
Jean-Bernard Parenteau | Director General, Canadian Partnerships for Health and Social Development, Global Affairs Canada
Presentations by:
Farhan Karim, Cecelia Scheuer, Ishani Parekh, and Nathalia Trujillo from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education

Global Reads: The Ministry for the Future
2022-11-29 12:00 - 13:30
Aga Khan Foundation Canada is pleased to invite you to join our monthly book club series: Global Reads.
Join us in November for a lively discussion with New York Times bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson. In a discussion led by Catherine McKenna, we will discuss his novel, The Ministry for the Future, which uses fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all.
In Global Reads, we explore a recent literary work focused on international affairs, policy, or practice—with an emphasis on innovation, new voices, and diverse perspectives. Notable leaders and thinkers from international affairs, global development, and allied sectors facilitate lively and inclusive discussions, providing a structure for collaborative interpretation, learning, and growth.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session as well as connect with other attendees during the session.
Join Global Reads to:

Forge new connections with likeminded, globally focused thinkers
Encounter inspiring, challenging, and unconventional ideas
Gain a fresh perspective on your work
Reignite your professional development goals

Additional Information for attendees

In-person / Virtual Ticket: When you register, please indicate whether you will attend in-person at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat (199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa) or online (Zoom) by selecting the relevant ticket option for each session.
Refreshments: In-person attendees are welcome to arrive before 12 pm ET to network and enjoy light refreshments afterwards.

Questions? Please contact events.akfc@akdn.org

Speakers
Kim Stanley Robinson, Author
Kim Stanley Robinson is a New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. He is the author of more than twenty books, including the bestselling Mars trilogy and the critically acclaimed Forty Signs of Rain, The Years of Rice and Salt, and 2312. In 2008, he was named a “Hero of the Environment” by Time magazine, and he works with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute. He lives in Davis, California.
Catherine McKenna, Chair, UN’s Secretary-General’s High-level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments

With welcoming remarks from:
Khalil Z. Shariff, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Canada

Better Practices in Gender Lens Investing
2023-04-17 16:30 - 18:00
On April 17, join Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Criterion Institute, 2X Global, the Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) for a conversation on gender lens – growing the field, setting new standards, understanding the challenges and shaping the future.
The session will focus on learning from previous initiatives within the sector and raising awareness of new developments and opportunities.
What to expect:

A presentation of the role of ARISE, supported by Global Affairs Canada, in the field of gender-lens investing
Announcement of the ARISE grant recipients and a celebration of their work in the field of gender-lens investing
The launch of a new call for proposals that will support research in gender-lens investing
A presentation of WUSC’s Towards a Gender-Transformative Climate Finance Roadmap: An Ecosystem Approach to Inclusive, Equitable, and Transformative Change for Women Climate Entrepreneurs
Dialogue and reflection on gender lens investing, including learnings from the Accelerating Women Climate Entrepreneurs project, a joint initiative of AKFC, ANDE, and WUSC

Additional Information for Attendees

In-person attendees are encouraged to participate in an informal networking session after the event.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and greet our speakers!
Questions? Please contact akfc.events@akdn.org

Speakers
Joy Anderson, Founder and President of Criterion Institute
Hundreds of ventures have been shaped by Joy’s insights and experience. As faculty on the leading social innovation award programs, including Unreasonable Institute and Echoing Green, she advises the next generation of leaders. As chair of the board of directors of Village Capital and through involvement in Investor’s Circle, she is actively involved in shaping early-stage social investments. And through her role in developing and leading Structure Lab workshops, she has helped over 300 organizations think through their legal and financial structures. Currently, she leads Criterion Institute which serves as a think tank around shaping markets to create social and environmental good.
Steve Mason, Regional Director, North America (Programs and Partnerships), AKFC
In this role, he is responsible for managing an international development and humanitarian program portfolio spanning 20 countries, developing and maintaining relationships with a variety of governmental and non-governmental partners, and providing intellectual and organizational leadership to the Foundation. Prior to taking on this role, Steve was the founding Regional CEO of Aga Khan Foundation (West Africa), based in Bamako, Mali.
Katie Turner, Consultant
Sam Landon, Director of Programs, WUSC

A Transformative Partnership for Global Development: Canada and the AKU
2024-11-13 09:00 - 12:15
Join us on November 13 for an inspiring event that will delve into the vital connection between investing in higher education and advancing sustainable development.
During this event, we will celebrate a remarkable 40-year journey of collaboration between Canada and the Aga Khan University (AKU), highlighting the transformative impact of education.
Canada and Canadians have played a vital role in the establishment, growth, and impact of AKU, contributing financial, technical, and intellectual support that has transformed countless lives. This programme will gather Canadian leaders and thought partners to celebrate the partnership between Canada and AKU, while reflecting on the critical role of higher education institutions in advancing sustainable development in the Global South. Together, let’s witness how Canada’s and AKU’s shared commitment is building a brighter, more sustainable future where we all thrive together.
In addition, we invite you to explore “A Transformative Vision”, an exhibition that honors the vision and work of AKU’s founder and Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, the dedication of the thousands of individuals who have helped turn that vision into reality, and the impact AKU has had on countless lives. Featuring rarely seen photography, video, artefacts and documents, new interviews with key figures, the exhibition captures AKU’s evolution from a single campus and hospital to the internationally recognised, continent-spanning institution of today. This exhibition will be open to event participants.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to engage with thought leaders and decision-makers, reflect on achievements, and be part of a conversation on the future of higher education and development!
Additional information for attendees:

When you register, please indicate your interest in attending in-person at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat or attending online (Zoom) by selecting the relevant ticket option.
Networking/Refreshments: In-person attendees are encouraged to participate in an informal networking session and enjoy refreshments before and after the event.
Please note that this event will be offered in English only.

Questions? Akfc.events@akdn.org
Learn more and register.
Moderators and Panelists
Opening Remarks:

Khalil Z. Shariff, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Canada
Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President, Aga Khan University

Panel 1:

Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, Trustee, Aga Khan University & President Emerita, University of Calgary
Dr. Joy Johnson, President and Vice Chancellor, Simon Fraser University
Julie Delehanty, President, International Development Research Center
Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Founding Director, Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University

Panel 2:

Dr. Tania Bubela, Provost & Vice President, Academic, Aga Khan University
Dr. Salim Virani, Vice Provost Research and the Nizar E. Noor Mohammed Mewawalla Endowed Professor, Aga Khan University
Professor Nancy Booker, Associate Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Media and Communications, Aga Khan University
Dr. Farid Panjwani, Dean, Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan, Aga Khan University
Dr. Jane Rarieya, Dean, Institute for Educational Development, East Africa, Aga Khan University
Dr. Amina Abubakar, Director, Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University
Dr Emmanuel Sulle, Director, Arusha Climate & Environmental Research Centre (ACER), Aga Khan University
Dr. Yasmin Amarsi, Professor Emeritus, Special Advisor and Founding Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan, Aga Khan University

Closing remarks:

Dr. Christopher MacLennan, Deputy Minister, International Development, Global Affairs Canada
Dr. Mahmood Eboo, Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network to Canada

Register Today!
