Events

June 2, 2014 - Aga Khan Foundation Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) hosted an interactive evening of ideas exchange that explored the power of identity in sustainable development and that marked the opening of the Second International Conference on Social Identity and Health.

September 30, 2014 - On September 30, AKFC and Right To Play invited people from across the country to discuss how sport and play are used to educate and empower children around the world.

October 16, 2014 - Most studies of doing business at the “bottom of the economic pyramid” focus on viewing the poor as consumers, or as potential employees of local companies. The book Making Markets More Inclusive takes a new approach: focusing on the poor as micro-entrepreneurs and as primary producers of agricultural commodities.

October 20-24, 2014 - Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) hosted a discussion between experts and practitioners working to create economic opportunities for youth. The discussion marked AKFC’s 10th University Seminar Series and was followed by an interactive workshop. Our goal? To spur important conversations on how we can create economic opportunities for youth and ensure that the voices of young people across Canada are heard in this critical global debate.

November 10-11, 2014 – Maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) has gained a lot of attention in recent years because of international commitments, spearheaded by the Government of Canada. Participants learned more about this important global health issue by hearing about the context in West Africa, relevant research and lessons learned from the field.

November 10-19, 2014 - On the airwaves and in print, former CBC journalist Mellissa Fung has brought Afghanistan’s stories home to Canadians – even after being abducted while on assignment at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Kabul. Drawing on her experiences reporting from the region over the last seven years, Mellissa shared what she has learned about Afghanistan, about its people, and about taking on a foreign assignment in one of the world’s most fragile countries. She also reflected on what Afghans have gained since 2001… and why we must remain committed to the country at this crucial moment for Afghanistan’s future.

November 19, 2014 - AKFC invited participants to watch a webcast presentation on the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFI) and the Canadian Development Context on November 19 at 9:30 am EST. Increasingly, there have been discussions that suggest that Canada may look to create a DFI to bolster investments in emerging economies aligned with current development priorities. Speakers reviewed the current international DFI landscape, addressed key concerns and challenges from the Canadian context, and outlined what a Canadian DFI will mean for current and future development priorities.

November 21, 2014 - Around the world, approximately 2.5 billion people do not have access to financial services. Without the ability to borrow, save and invest money, many poor and rural communities are exposed to further vulnerabilities and shocks. Against this backdrop, AKFC and MEDA hosted a workshop to share ways of expanding the range of sustainable and affordable financial services and platforms available to poor, “unbanked” populations.

December 2, 2014 - A robust civil society is key to ensuring governments are responsive and accountable to their population. Civil society is growing exponentially in countries with weak governance to address gaps in service delivery and social protection. But how effective is civil society in achieving its goals? Are there new ways to understand and strengthen civil society? How can citizens and civil society work collaboratively with government to solve problems? Speakers from the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) and other guests attempted to answer these questions and more.

December 4-5, 2014 - Aga Khan Foundation Canada, in partnership with the Humanitarian Coalition, the International Development Research Centre and the Canadian Research Institute on Humanitarian Crisis and Aid, invite you to watch a series of webcasts by renowned humanitarian experts at the second annual Canadian Humanitarian Conference. The conference was held at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa on December 4 and 5, 2014. It set the stage for a national conversation showcasing Canadian expertise in humanitarian response and related fields.