Aga Khan Foundation Canada

Daring to Deliver – Midwives on the Front Lines in Canada and Tanzania
2018-10-29 | University of Toronto, Room 108N (North House) 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7, Canada
REGISTER HERE.
Ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths happen in developing countries, and more than 1 million children every year die on the same day they are born – mostly from preventable causes. Complications are common in the late stages of pregnancy, delivery, and the first hours after birth.
Despite grim statistics, there is light on the horizon. According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Population Fund, death is preventable in four out of five cases with the timely help of a skilled professional.
Midwives are working on the front lines to provide crucial patient-centered care to women and their families during childbirth and support families during pregnancy and after delivery. But midwives often face challenges, including limited professional training opportunities and a lack of recognition of their roles within the community.
With the right education and support, midwives are key to tackling the root causes of poverty and gender inequality.
Speakers:
Wendy Wood is a practicing midwife in Calgary, Alberta and teaches midwifery emergency skills and neonatal resuscitation, building on her prior experience as a paramedic. Her work has taken her around the world, training other midwives in Tanzania, Costa Rica, Peru, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Nunavik.
Tracey Evans
Having grown up with parents working in the airline industry, Tracey spent much of her childhood bouncing from one country to the next and learning to explore new cultures. Those experiences led her to study International Development and Global Studies at University of Ottawa and pursue a Master’s degree in International Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. Tracey now works at Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), managing a portfolio of projects across East and West Africa and Central Asia. She has also worked on HIV/AIDS projects in West and South Africa.

CANCELLED- Daring to Deliver – Midwives on the Front Lines in Canada and Tanzania
2018-10-25 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Vancouver) | Life Sciences Centre- University of British Columbia, LSC 1001 LT1 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths happen in developing countries, and more than 1 million children every year die on the same day they are born – mostly from preventable causes. Complications are common in the late stages of pregnancy, delivery, and the first hours after birth.
Despite grim statistics, there is light on the horizon. According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Population Fund, death is preventable in four out of five cases with the timely help of a skilled professional.
Midwives are working on the front lines to provide crucial patient-centered care to women and their families during childbirth and support families during pregnancy and after delivery. But midwives often face challenges, including limited professional training opportunities and a lack of recognition of their roles within the community.
With the right education and support, midwives are key to tackling the root causes of poverty and gender inequality. That’s why Loveluck Mwasha (Aga Khan University) and Alix Bacon are passionate about strengthening local health systems, institutions, and professional capacities – investments that will pay dividends for years to come.
Speakers:
Loveluck Mwasha is a Senior Lecturer at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Vice-President of the Tanzania Midwives Association. In July 2017, Loveluck received the prestigious Midwife for Life award from the International Confederation of Midwives in Toronto, Canada.
Alix Bacon is a Registered Midwife and Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM), President of the Midwives Association of British Columbia, and the Association Strengthening lead on a joint project between CAM and the United Nations Population Fund to strengthen midwifery services in South Sudan. Alix practices at her clinic in Delta, B.C. and has served in Uganda as a junior instructor with UBC Midwifery’s Global Program. In 2016, she was recognized as one of 30 Young Midwifery Leaders by the International Confederation of Midwives.

Daring to Deliver – Midwives on the Front Lines in Canada and Tanzania
2018-10-23 | University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
This event will be held at the Professional Faculties building, Room 222 (PF222)
Ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths happen in developing countries, and more than 1 million children every year die on the same day they are born – mostly from preventable causes. Complications are common in the late stages of pregnancy, delivery, and the first hours after birth.
Despite grim statistics, there is light on the horizon. According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Population Fund, death is preventable in four out of five cases with the timely help of a skilled professional.
Midwives are working on the front lines to provide crucial patient-centered care to women and their families during childbirth and support families during pregnancy and after delivery. But midwives often face challenges, including limited professional training opportunities and a lack of recognition of their roles within the community.
With the right education and support, midwives are key to tackling the root causes of poverty and gender inequality.
Speakers:
Tracey Evans
Having grown up with parents working in the airline industry, Tracey spent much of her childhood bouncing from one country to the next and learning to explore new cultures. Those experiences led her to study International Development and Global Studies at University of Ottawa and pursue a Master’s degree in International Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. Tracey now works at Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), managing a portfolio of projects across East and West Africa and Central Asia. She has also worked on HIV/AIDS projects in West and South Africa.

Daring to Deliver – Midwives on the Front Lines in Canada and Tanzania
2018-10-22 | University of Alberta- Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada
This event will take place in the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA) building, room 2-150.
Ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths happen in developing countries, and more than 1 million children every year die on the same day they are born – mostly from preventable causes. Complications are common in the late stages of pregnancy, delivery, and the first hours after birth.
Despite grim statistics, there is light on the horizon. According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Population Fund, death is preventable in four out of five cases with the timely help of a skilled professional.
Midwives are working on the front lines to provide crucial patient-centered care to women and their families during childbirth and support families during pregnancy and after delivery. But midwives often face challenges, including limited professional training opportunities and a lack of recognition of their roles within the community.
With the right education and support, midwives are key to tackling the root causes of poverty and gender inequality. That’s why Loveluck Mwasha (Aga Khan University) and Wendy Wood (Canadian Association of Midwives) are passionate about strengthening local health systems, institutions, and professional capacities – investments that will pay dividends for years to come.
Speakers:
Loveluck Mwasha is a Senior Lecturer at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Vice-President of the Tanzania Midwives Association. In July 2017, Loveluck received the prestigious Midwife for Life award from the International Confederation of Midwives in Toronto, Canada.
Wendy Wood is a practicing midwife in Calgary, Alberta and teaches midwifery emergency skills and neonatal resuscitation, building on her prior experience as a paramedic. Her work has taken her around the world, training other midwives in Tanzania, Costa Rica, Peru, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Nunavik.

Daring to Deliver – Midwives on the Front Lines in Canada and Tanzania
2018-10-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Regina) | University of Saskatchewan, 129-72 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B5, Canada
Ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths happen in developing countries, and more than 1 million children every year die on the same day they are born – mostly from preventable causes. Complications are common in the late stages of pregnancy, delivery, and the first hours after birth.
Despite grim statistics, there is light on the horizon. According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Population Fund, death is preventable in four out of five cases with the timely help of a skilled professional.
Midwives are working on the front lines to provide crucial patient-centered care to women and their families during childbirth and support families during pregnancy and after delivery. But midwives often face challenges, including limited professional training opportunities and a lack of recognition of their roles within the community.
With the right education and support, midwives are key to tackling the root causes of poverty and gender inequality. That’s why Loveluck Mwasha (Aga Khan University) and Wendy Wood (Canadian Association of Midwives) are passionate about strengthening local health systems, institutions, and professional capacities – investments that will pay dividends for years to come.
Speakers:
Loveluck Mwasha is a Senior Lecturer at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Vice-President of the Tanzania Midwives Association. In July 2017, Loveluck received the prestigious Midwife for Life award from the International Confederation of Midwives in Toronto, Canada.
Wendy Wood is a practicing midwife in Calgary, Alberta and teaches midwifery emergency skills and neonatal resuscitation, building on her prior experience as a paramedic. Her work has taken her around the world, training other midwives in Tanzania, Costa Rica, Peru, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Nunavik.

Careers in International Development – AKFC International Youth Fellowship Information Session
2018-10-05 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Interested in a career in international development? Tracey Evans, Program Manager at Aga Khan Foundation Canada will share the ins and outs of her experience as an AKFC International Youth Fellow in Bangladesh – and how it paved the way to a career working on education projects in Africa and Asia.
Hosted by University of British Columbia’s Bachelor of International Education program.

Sparking change: clean energy and women’s empowerment
2018-06-18 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Energy is an undeniable requirement for sustainable development. Poverty reduction is powered, literally, through the light students study by at night, the equipment used in healthcare facilities, and the energy required to run businesses. But worldwide 2.8 billion people do not have access to modern energy services, and 1.2 billion people have no access to electricity or liquid fuels. Women and girls, who are often the primary household energy managers, are particularly impacted by energy poverty. It is estimated that over 1.5 billion woman-hours a year are spent collecting unsustainable fuel sources, with negative consequences for women’s livelihoods and well-being, household health, environmental sustainability, and climate.
The growing renewable energy sector has an important role to play in providing universal access to energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and addressing the gender dynamics of energy poverty. Around the world, technologies ranging from the simplest solar lamp for home use to large renewable energy parks are being developed, all with the ability to transform the energy poverty story and support clean, sustainable growth that builds climate resilience and contributes to women’s economic and social empowerment.
On June 18, 2018, join Aga Khan Foundation Canada for a roundtable on clean energy and women’s empowerment. This roundtable will explore ways to support clean energy as a catalyst for economic growth and women’s empowerment, and discuss how to address the challenges, risks, and barriers presented by growth in this sector.
June 18, 2018
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Registration and light refreshments at 8:30 AM
Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat
199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON
Space is limited for this event. Please register your interest in attending by emailing events@akfc.ca.

Financial support:

1 Million Lives Unlocked: Vancouver event
2018-04-08 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | Ismaili Jamatkhana Richmond, 4000 May Drive, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Together, we have a million reasons to celebrate. In 2012, the Government of Canada and Aga Khan Foundation Canada launched an unprecedented partnership to tackle the root causes of poverty in Africa and Asia.
Thanks to tens of thousands of Canadians, we unlocked the potential of over a million women and men, girls and boys across Africa and Asia to build a better life – and laid the foundations to ensure that millions more continue to benefit in the years to come.
Join AKFC to celebrate the impact that Canadians have made through this partnership. Engaging speakers, striking video and photography, and thought-provoking conversations will provide an exclusive look at the results of this initiative… and some of the million individual stories of change it inspired.
Register now!
Sunday, April 8, 2018
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Financial support:

The Lancet Series: Canada's Global Leadership on Health
2018-02-23 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On February 23, 2018, The Lancet, in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation Canada and the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, hosted an event to launch the first ever Lancet Series on Canada at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. The Series on Canada examines the country’s system of universal health coverage and its global role in health, including Canada’s legacy, challenges, and future path on issues such as access to health care, gender equality, global health diplomacy, and Indigenous peoples’ health.
#LancetCanada

Programme
Welcome
Mr. Khalil Shariff, Aga Khan Foundation Canada
Dr. Lynn Wilson, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Richard Horton, The Lancet
Dr. Jocalyn Clark, The Lancet
Keynote Remarks
The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services
Panel Discussions
moderated by Mr. Andre Picard, The Globe and Mail health columnist
1.Canada’s universal health system: achieving its potential
For the authors: Dr. Danielle Martin (University of Toronto) and Dr. Nadine Caron (University of British Columbia)
Discussants: Professor Colleen Flood (University of Ottawa)
2.Canada’s global health role: supporting equity and citizenship as a middle power
For the authors: Dr. Stephanie Nixon (University of Toronto) and Dr. Kelley Lee (Simon Fraser University)
Discussants: Mr. Robert Greenhill (Global Canada Initiative)
Closing Remarks
Dr. Richard Horton, The Lancet

For more on The Lancet global health advocacy:

In partnership with:

Financial support:

Humanitarian responses on the horizon in 2018: Learning from our past and anticipating future challenges
2018-01-30 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Aga Khan Foundation Canada hosted a vibrant panel session about emerging humanitarian crises, trends, and solutions on the horizon for 2018 . In partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, Humanitarian Response Network, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, this event engaged with policymakers and representatives from the sector to discuss shifts in humanitarian response for the coming year and to foster opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.

PROGRAMME:
9:00: Welcome by Panel Chair
Khalil Shariff (CEO, Aga Khan Foundation Canada)
9:15 –10:15: Panel Session
Moderator: Julia Sanchez (President –CEO, Canadian Council for International Cooperation)
Panelists:
Dominik Stillhart (Director of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross)
Jean-Nicolas Beuze (Representative in Canada, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Gillian Barth (President and CEO, CARE Canada)
10:15 –10:45: Audience Questions
Moderator: Julia Sanchez (President –CEO, Canadian Council for International Cooperation)
10:45 –11:00: Closing Remarks
Khalil Shariff (CEO, Aga Khan Foundation Canada)

In partnership with:

Financial support:

Final stop at Together Exhibition in Ottawa
2017-12-05 12:30 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, Aga Khan Foundation Canada invited the public to walk through a custom-built truck with 1,000 square feet of interactive exhibition space and explore how Canadians are driving positive change around the world at the award-winning Together exhibition as it made its final stop at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. The exhibition included powerful photography, unique objects, a global citizen quiz, an interactive world map, and opportunities for visitors to share their ideas.

Climate Change and Natural Disasters: Are we ready?
2017-11-27 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
From massive wildfires to powerful hurricanes and heavy rainfalls, 2017 was a year of extreme weather and natural disasters around the globe. Billions of dollars and thousands of lives were lost. And with climate change continuing, the incidence and severity of these kinds of natural disasters are set to increase in the years ahead.
Are Canadians ready to face these challenges, as individuals and as a nation? What lessons can we learn from other countries, and what can we be doing to help the international response?
On Monday, November 27, 2017 Aga Khan Foundation Canada and thePanel welcomed over 150 people to the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat for Climate change and natural disasters: Are we ready? A panel of four global experts explored the natural disaster risks we face based on new climate and weather trends, how we should be preparing, and what role Canada should play abroad.

Speakers included:
Dr. Blair Feltmate, Head, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Leader, Green Party of Canada
Salim Rajan, Head of Planning and Building, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat
Rahul Singh, Founder of the David McAntony Gibson Foundation and GlobalMedic
Veronica Scotti, President & CEO, Canada at Swiss Re
Moderated by CBC’s Hannah Thibedeau

In partnership with:

Financial support:

Gold Level Sponsors:

A Special Tour of the Together Exhibition
2017-11-18 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | ON
On November 18th, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) invited the people of Victoria for a special tour of the award-winning Together exhibition. Visitors had the opportunity to walk through a custom-built truck with 1,000 square feet of interactive exhibition space and explore how Canadians are driving positive change around the world.
Over the past three years, the exhibition has traveled across Canada, welcoming 75,000 visitors and inspiring Canadians to become active global citizens.
This was the exhibition’s final stop in Victoria before it wrapped up its cross Canada tour.

Getting to Work: Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan - University of British Columbia
2017-10-05 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Toronto) | University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
On Thursday, October 5th, 2017, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the International Relations Student Association at UBC hosted Yasmin Karim, Gender and Development Programme Manager, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan. The evening included conversations surrounding achieving women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is challenging social norms and transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities as part of AKFC’s annual University Seminar Series. By working through a case study, participants explored approaches, challenges and lessons learned implementing women’s economic empowerment programs.
Women’s economic empowerment is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In Pakistan, despite important progress in access to education, health, and participation in community life for women, many women still face significant barriers accessing economic opportunities. Social norms reinforce stereotypes, limit women’s mobility outside the household and impact women’s personal agency. Many young women lack the skills, confidence and support to make key life decisions, including those related to employment and livelihoods. Within the labour market, the institutions intended to facilitate women’s participation are often weak and unable to implement laws meant to ensure women’s safety and security. This lack of a supportive environment discourages women from pursuing a wider range of employment opportunities – particularly those outside traditional income‐generating roles.
Yasmin Karim is the Gender and Development Manager for the Enhancing Employability and Leadership for Youth project in northern Pakistan. Ms. Karim has spent over two decades with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in northern Pakistan implementing community development initiatives on women’s social and economic empowerment. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Financial support:

Getting to Work: Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan - Simon Fraser University
2017-10-04 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Simon Fraser University – Vancouver Campus, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5K3, Canada
Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and Simon Fraser University invite you to join a conversation about women’s empowerment in Pakistan as part of AKFC’s annual University Seminar Series.

Women’s economic empowerment is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In Pakistan, despite important progress in access to education, health, and participation in community life for women, many women still face significant barriers accessing economic opportunities. Social norms reinforce stereotypes, limit women’s mobility outside the household and impact women’s personal agency. Many young women lack the skills, confidence and support to make key life decisions, including those related to employment and livelihoods. Within the labour market, the institutions intended to facilitate women’s participation are often weak and unable to implement laws meant to ensure women’s safety and security. This lack of a supportive environment discourages women from pursuing a wider range of employment opportunities – particularly those outside traditional income‐generating roles.

On October 4, join Yasmin Karim, the Gender and Development Programme Manager with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan, for a conversation about achieving women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is challenging social norms and transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities. By working through a case study, participants will explore some approaches, challenges and lessons learned implementing women’s economic empowerment programs.
Register now!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Room: HC2270
Simon Fraser University – Vancouver Campus
Harbour Centre
515 W Hastings St
Yasmin Karim is the Gender and Development Manager for the Enhancing Employability and Leadership for Youth project in northern Pakistan. Ms. Karim has spent over two decades with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in northern Pakistan implementing community development initiatives on women’s social and economic empowerment. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Financial support:

Getting to Work: Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan - University of Victoria
2017-10-03 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Toronto) | University of Victoria – Engineering/Computer Science Building, 99111 Ring Rd, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
On October 3, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the University of Victoria hosted the community for an evening to join a conversation about women’s empowerment in Pakistan as part of AKFC’s annual University Seminar Series.
Women’s economic empowerment is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In Pakistan, despite important progress in access to education, health, and participation in community life for women, many women still face significant barriers accessing economic opportunities. Social norms reinforce stereotypes, limit women’s mobility outside the household and impact women’s personal agency. Many young women lack the skills, confidence and support to make key life decisions, including those related to employment and livelihoods. Within the labour market, the institutions intended to facilitate women’s participation are often weak and unable to implement laws meant to ensure women’s safety and security. This lack of a supportive environment discourages women from pursuing a wider range of employment opportunities – particularly those outside traditional income‐generating roles.
Yasmin Karim, Gender and Development Programme Manager, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan, facilitated a conversation about achieving women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is challenging social norms and transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities. By working through a case study, participants explored approaches, challenges and lessons learned implementing women’s economic empowerment programs.
Yasmin Karim is the Gender and Development Manager for the Enhancing Employability and Leadership for Youth project in northern Pakistan. Ms. Karim has spent over two decades with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in northern Pakistan implementing community development initiatives on women’s social and economic empowerment. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Financial support:

Getting to Work: Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan - University of Alberta
2017-10-02 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Toronto) | University of Alberta – School of Business, Alberta School of Business, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R6, Canada
On October 2, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the University of Alberta invited Canadians to join a conversation about women’s empowerment in Pakistan as part of AKFC’s annual University Seminar Series.
Yasmin Karim, Gender and Development Programme Manager, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan spoke about achieving women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is challenging social norms and transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities. By working through a case study, participants explored approaches, challenges and lessons learned while implementing women’s economic empowerment programs.
Women’s economic empowerment is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In Pakistan, despite important progress in access to education, health, and participation in community life for women, many women still face significant barriers accessing economic opportunities. Social norms reinforce stereotypes, limit women’s mobility outside the household and impact women’s personal agency. Many young women lack the skills, confidence and support to make key life decisions, including those related to employment and livelihoods.
Within the labour market, the institutions intended to facilitate women’s participation are often weak and unable to implement laws meant to ensure women’s safety and security. This lack of a supportive environment discourages women from pursuing a wider range of employment opportunities – particularly those outside traditional income‐generating roles.
Yasmin Karim is the Gender and Development Manager for the Enhancing Employability and Leadership for Youth project in northern Pakistan. Ms. Karim has spent over two decades with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in northern Pakistan implementing community development initiatives on women’s social and economic empowerment. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Financial support:

Getting to Work: Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan - University of Toronto
2017-09-29 12:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | University of Toronto, Room 108N (North House) 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7, Canada
Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the Munk School Of Global Affairs, University of Toronto invite you to join a conversation about women’s empowerment in Pakistan as part of AKFC’s annual University Seminar Series.

Women’s economic empowerment is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Lack of access to economic resources and opportunities impacts women’s ability to participate and succeed in economic activities. In Pakistan, despite important progress in access to education, health, and participation in community life for women, many women still face significant barriers accessing economic opportunities. Many young women lack the skills, confidence and support to make key life decisions, including those related to employment and livelihoods. Within the labour market, the institutions intended to facilitate women’s participation are often weak and unable to implement laws meant to ensure women’s safety and security. This lack of a supportive environment discourages women from pursuing a wider range of employment opportunities – particularly those outside traditional income‐generating roles.

On September 29, join Yasmin Karim, Programme Manager with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan, for a conversation about women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is challenging social norms and transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities. By working through a case study, participants will explore some approaches, challenges and lessons learned implementing women’s economic empowerment programs.

Register now!
Friday, September 29, 2017
12:00 – 2:30 (includes light lunch)
Room 208N (North House)
University of Toronto

Yasmin Karim is the Programme Manager, Gender and Development with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) Pakistan. Since 2011, Yasmin has worked with AKRSP to design and implement community development programs that drive women’s social and economic empowerment. Previously, she has worked for the International Rescue Committee, and the Aga Khan Development Network Multi-input Earthquake Reconstruction Programme. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Registration Link:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/aga-khan-foundation-canadas-university-tour-september-2017-tickets-36493633440

Financial support:

Getting to Work: Women's Empowerment in South Asia - Ismaili Centre Toronto
2017-09-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto) | Ismaili Centre Toronto, 49 Wynford Dr, North York, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1K1, Canada
On September 28 Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the Ismaili Centre Toronto hosted a conversation about women’s empowerment and the work of the Aga Khan Development Network in South Asia.

In Pakistan, significant inequalities between women and men persist. While challenging social norms can be difficult, small, strategic steps in women’s economic empowerment have changed the lives of many, leading to inspiring stories of hope and social inclusion.
Yasmin Karim, Programme Manager, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme Pakistan, and Lindsay Mossman, Gender Advisor, Aga Khan Foundation Canada engaged with the community to talk about women’s empowerment in challenging contexts and how vocational and skills training in Pakistan is transforming women’s roles in their household and their communities.

Yasmin Karim is the Programme Manager, Gender and Development with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) Pakistan. Since 2011, Yasmin has worked with AKRSP to design and implement community development programs that drive women’s social and economic empowerment. Previously, she worked for the International Rescue Committee, and the Aga Khan Development Network Multi-input Earthquake Reconstruction Programme. In 2005, Yasmin was one of 1000 women collectively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize through the 1000 Peace Women initiative, and in 2012 she was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Lindsay Mossman is the Gender Advisor at Aga Khan Foundation Canada, where she supports gender equality integration throughout the Foundation’s programmes. She is a gender specialist with a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and over ten years of experience promoting women’s rights and gender equality in Canada and overseas. Lindsay has particular expertise in gender analysis and mainstreaming, program development, and capacity building, coaching and training and was the CEO of a gender equality consulting firm that she founded in Kigali, Rwanda, which supports development partners, NGOs and private organisations to integrate gender equality in their organisations.

Financial support:

Influence, Inspire, Innovate: Realizing the potential of new policy horizons
2017-09-27 09:00 - 2017-09-28 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
The Canadian Council for International Cooperation’s 2017 annual conference, INFLUENCE INSPIRE INNOVATE was held in Ottawa from September 27 to 28, 2017 at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. The conference brought together over 200 stakeholders from international development and humanitarian civil society organizations (CSOs), academics and researchers, key government officials and policy makers for two days of keynotes, workshops, and networking events.
For the first time, the CCIC conference was organized in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) and Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), and tackled the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian global development sector.
INFLUENCE INSPIRE INNOVATE focused on the potential of new policy directions in a rapidly changing domestic and international context. At the heart of the conference was the question: How should Canadian civil society organizations seize new policy opportunities and tackle corresponding challenges?
Global experts, thought leaders and practitioners came together for interactive sessions, enlightening talks, and inspiring debates that explored the key elements of new policy directions, and the new skills, ways of working, and partnerships that are required to create a more peaceful, prosperous, and equal world for all.

Four exciting sessions were held at the conference:
Data revolution? Innovations in data collection for M&E
September 27, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
It is widely agreed that evidence should be used to inform decision-making, but do our systems meet on-the-ground needs and realities? Collecting actionable and timely data that allow organizations and users to ask the deeper questions needed to improve program design and facilitate learning can be a challenge. This session will explore innovative possibilities for more participatory, meaningful, and transformative data collection processes.
Andrew Cunningham, Global Education Advisor, Aga Khan Foundation
Anoushka Kenley, Senior Consultant, Measurement and Evaluation, New Philanthropy Capital
Erica Stillo, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager, Aga Khan Foundation Canada

The Feminist Approach 201: A case study for championing new gender norms
September 27, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
The Feminist International Assistance Policy’s focus on empowering women and girls is a bold example of Canada’s ambition to be a global leader in gender equality. Its reframing of international policy priorities creates new opportunities, but also raises questions about how to advance a feminist agenda while engaging with existing social norms. Using case examples, this session will consider how to address social norms in challenging contexts and pave the way for greater, and sustained, gender equality.
Yasmin Karim, Programme Manager, Gender and Development, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme

Making sense of pluralism
September 28, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
In an era of heightening global fragilities and fault lines, there is a strong need to promote pluralism through international development programming and the Sustainable Development Goals. What is pluralism, how does it manifest in various contexts and how can you integrate it into your work? This interactive workshop will present a pluralism analysis tool, study responses to human diversity in various contexts and explore various intersections of pluralism with international development.
Afroza Nanji, Pluralism and Global Citizenship Educator
Nathan Bowers-Krishnan, Program Officer, Global Centre for Pluralism

Is development newsworthy?
September 28, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Media – newspapers, television, radio, blogs, and social networks – play an undeniable role in framing the way Canadians think about international development. But with shrinking newsroom budgets, a 24 hour news cycle, and trending #FakeNews, the media landscape is in constant flux. In this environment, are stories about development still making it to Canadians? What stories are being told and whose voices are being heard? This session will disseminate findings from a content analysis of Canadian media coverage of the developing world, and discuss what role the media can play in building understanding of development.
Colette Brin, Professor, Département d’information et de communication, Université Laval and Director, Centre d’études sur les medias, Université Laval
Megan Clement, Managing Editor, Women & Girls, News Deeply
Robert Steiner, Director of the Fellowships in Global Journalism, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
For more speaker details and to view the full conference agenda, please visit globaldev150.ca
In partnership:

Financial support:

Making our Mark: Celebrating young Canadians’ global leadership
2017-06-15 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Thursday, June 15, Aga Khan Foundation Canada hosted a sunset soiree to celebrate young Canadians’ contributions to global development and look ahead at opportunities to bring the best of Canada to the world.
For Canada’s 150th anniversary, AKFC celebrated what it means to be Canadian. We focused on what we can do for others and embrace our roles as citizens of the world.

The evening provided an opportunity to meet this year’s AKFC International Youth Fellows before they departed on their overseas placements.

Financial support:

Reducing Violent Extremism: What Works?
2017-06-07 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Fifteen years into the “Global War on Terror,” governments continue to struggle to contain the threat of violent extremism.

Despite significant investments of time and resources to develop strategies and programming aimed at reducing violence, evidence on “what works” has evaded policymakers and practitioners working on violence reduction – particularly countering violent extremism or stabilization efforts.
On June 7, 2017 Aga Khan Foundation Canada hosted a special briefing by Global Affairs Canada and Mercy Corps on innovative methods for preventing extreme violence in fragile states.
Discussions centered around:
-What types of interventions, both online and offline, work towards reducing violence and violent extremism?
-What are current global trends in protecting human rights, including respect for diversity and inclusion?
-In what contexts could foreign assistance exacerbate violence?
-What types of interventions reduce support for violence?
-What have we learned after more than a decade of post-conflict stabilization efforts?
Speakers included:
Dr. Rebecca Wolfe
Director of Peace and Conflict
Mercy Corps
Richard Arbeiter
Director General, Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion
Global Affairs Canada

In partnership:

Financial support:

Measuring Success: A showcase on best practices and innovations in monitoring, evaluation, and learning
2017-05-08 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Monday, May 8, 2017, The Ottawa Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) community of practice presented Measuring Success: A showcase on best practices and innovations in monitoring, evaluation, and learning in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. The event attracted people interested in learning about new ideas and best practices used by Canadian international development organizations in monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Many organizations face similar challenges when it comes to monitoring progress, measuring impact, and learning from past experiences. And many organizations have found creative and innovative ways to address these challenges and improve their ability to deliver effective and sustainable development programming.
This showcase featured presentations from several Canadian international development organizations, including Global Affairs Canada, in a knowledge exchange intended to strengthen Canadian practices in monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
The following topics were covered:

Setting up M&E, and learning systems
Defining beneficiaries
Building accountability
Leveraging new technologies
Developing theories of change
Gender mainstreaming

The free learning and networking event was an opportunity to:

Discuss good practices and innovations in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning;
Gain fresh insights on how your own organization compares with, and can learn from, other organizations involved in development cooperation;
Help inform the future of the Ottawa-based MEAL Community of Practice by sharing your ideas and perspectives with colleagues from various organizations, and;
Explore the new results-based management (RBM) guide from Global Affairs Canada.

In partnership:
The Ottawa Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) community of practice

Executive Masterclass: Measurement in Impact Investing
2017-05-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Friday, May 5, 2017 Aga Khan Foundation Canada held its second Executive Masterclass, which used the case method to allow participants to actively engage on development issues that cut across sectors and expertise. This masterclass addressed the challenges of impact investing, using the Harvard Business School case study, Acumen Fund: Measurement in Impact Investing (A). The masterclass led participants in a dynamic, interactive exploration of whether Acumen should invest in two innovative new projects in Kenya aimed at delivering services to the poor. With a specific focus on identifying key performance metrics to measure social impact, participants determined whether the two projects met Acumen’s social and financial investment criteria.
The masterclass was facilitated by the author of the case, Alnoor Ebrahim, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Tufts University and featured special insights and commentary from Acumen Fund.

Alnoor Ebrahim is an Associate Professor in the General Management Unit, and in the Social Enterprise Initiative, at the Harvard Business School. His research and teaching focus on the challenges of performance management, accountability, and governance facing social sector organizations. He is also a principal of Harvard University’s Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations.
Prior to joining the faculty of the Harvard Business School, Alnoor Ebrahim was the Wyss Visiting Scholar at HBS, and a Visiting Associate Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also taught at Virginia Tech for several years, where he was a founding co-director of the Institute for Governance and Accountabilities. He holds a BSc degree from MIT (1991) in civil and environmental engineering, and a PhD from Stanford University (1999), where he studied environmental planning and management.

Financial Support:

Growing Gains – Advancing Early Childhood Development
2017-05-01 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
On Monday, May 1, 2017 Aga Khan Foundation Canada and the Alliance for Human Development explored how tested approaches to early childhood development can be integrated into global development programming and policy. Growing gains – Advancing Early Childhood Development presented findings from the recent Lancet series on early childhood development, and illuminated how Canada contributes to advancing this field nationally and globally. We were joined by several authors of the Lancet series, other experts, and policymakers for a series of interactive sessions, engaging talks, and stimulating discussion.
Special guests:

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Ted Chaiban, Director of Programmes, UNICEF

With:

Stephen Lye, Executive Director, Alliance for Human Development; Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Co-Director, SickKids Centre for Global Child Health; and Founding Director, Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University
Pia Britto, Chief and Senior Advisor, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF

And speakers:

Catherine Birken, Scientist, SickKids Research Institute
Shoo Lee, Scientific Director, Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Kofi Marfo, Executive Director, Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University
Stephen McGurk, Vice President, Programs and Partnership Branch, International Development Research Centre
Karlee Silver, Vice President, Programs, Grand Challenges Canada

In partership:

Financial Support:

Ted Chaiban, Director of Programmes, UNICEF. Ted Chaiban was appointed as Director of Programmes for UNICEF in August 2014. Prior to this assignment, he was Director of Emergency Programmes for UNICEF where he mobilized support for UNICEF’s response to large scale emergencies in Syria, the Central African Republic, the Philippines and South Sudan and designed and initiated a humanitarian reform process, known as the Strengthening Humanitarian Action initiative, to increase the timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s humanitarian action. Mr. Chaiban is a national of both the United States of America and Lebanon. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Political Science from Tufts University and a Master of Arts Degree in Development and Arab Studies from Georgetown University, USA.
Dr. Stephen Lye, Executive Director, Alliance for Human Development; Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Stephen Lye Ph.D., is a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health System where he is the ScotiaBank Scientist in Child and Adolescent Development and the Women’s Auxiliary Chair in Women’s and Infants’ Health Research. Dr. Lye is Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Physiology and Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lye leads the Alliance for Human Development, a transdisciplinary initiative that seeks to improve the health and well-being of all children, everywhere, by focusing on optimizing their development in early-life. His research has integrated discovery, clinical and translational studies including the commercialization of discoveries in partnership with industry. Dr. Lye has established international research consortia focused on identifying interactions between an individual’s genetic make-up and their environment during the first 2000 days of life that underlie obesity and cardio-metabolic disorders. He has published over 230 research papers on pregnancy and maternal-child health with a special focus on mechanisms underlying preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. Dr. Lye has received numerous awards and honors, including Fellowship of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK) and the President’s Scientific Achievement Award from the Society for Reproductive Investigation.
Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Co-Director, SickKids Centre for Global Child Health; and Founding Director, Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University. Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta is the Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health and the Founding Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at the Aga Khan University, unique joint appointments. He also holds adjunct professorships at several leading Universities globally including the Schools of Public Health at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore), Tufts University (Boston), Boston University School of Public Health, University of Alberta as well as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He is a designated Distinguished National Professor of the Government of Pakistan and was the Founding Chair of the National Research Ethics Committee of the Government of Pakistan from 2003-2014. Bhutta was a member of the Independent Expert Review Group (iERG) appointed by the UN Secretary General for monitoring global progress in maternal and child health MDGs (2011-2015). He represented the global academic and research organizations on the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (Gavi) Board and was the co-chair of the Global Countdown for 2015 Initiative from 2006-2016. Bhutta is the co-chair of the Maternal and Child Health oversight committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) and the chairman of the Coalition of Centers in Global Child Health with its secretariat based at SickKids.
Dr. Pia Britto, Chief and Senior Advisor, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF. Dr. Pia Britto joined UNICEF in 2014 as Chief of Early Childhood Development, bringing with her many years of expertise in early childhood policy and programmes. Prior to joining UNICEF she was an Assistant Professor at Yale University and is internationally renowned for her work on developing, implementing and evaluating early childhood programmes and policies around the world. This includes providing evidence for the role of governance and finance in national systems in achieving equity; developing models for quality early childhood services; promoting women’s economic empowerment, and the role of parents and caregivers. Dr. Britto has been the recipient of various awards and grants; has published articles, books and reports; and made numerous presentations at both academic and non-academic conferences and seminars. She obtained her doctoral degree in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University.
Dr. Catherine Birken, Scientist, SickKids Research Institute. Catherine Birken MD, MSc, is a general paediatrician in the division of Paediatric Medicine, Associate Professor, University of Toronto (U of T), and a Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute. Her clinical care activities include attending paediatrician in inpatient paediatrics, and paediatrician in the outpatient SickKids Obesity Management Program for children with complex obesity. Her research is in prevention of childhood overweight and obesity in early childhood, and is co-leader of TARGet Kids! primary care practice based research network to advance child health research. Dr. Birken is funded by CIHR for the study of obesity and cardiometabolic risk and early childhoood development in school, 2 randomized controlled trials in obesity prevention and treatmnet with public health nurse led parenting and home visiting intervention, and a population evaluation of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge in Ontario.
Dr. Shoo Lee, Scientific Director, Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Dr. Shoo Lee is a neonatologist and health economist. He is Scientific Director of the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Professor of Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Public Health; Paediatrician-in-Chief and Director of the Maternal-Infant Care (MICare) Research Centre at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Senior Clinician Scientist of the Lunenfeld-Tannenbaum Research Institute. Dr. Lee received his medical degree from the University of Singapore, completed his paediatric training at the Janeway Children’s Hospital in Newfoundland and neonatal fellowship training at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, and received his PhD in Health Policy (Economics) from Harvard University. As the founder and Chairman of the Canadian Neonatal NetworkTM and the International Neonatal Collaboration, Dr Lee fosters collaborative research, and he leads the CIHR Team in Maternal-Infant Care. His research focuses on improving quality of care, patient outcomes and health care services delivery. He developed Family Integrated Care model and piloted the concept at Mount Sinai Hospital. Awards for his work include the CAPHC 2016 Contribution to Child Health Award, SPR Douglas K. Richardson Award for Perinatal & Pediatric Healthcare Research, CIHR Knowledge Translation Award, the Aventis Pasteur Research Award and the Distinguished Neonatologist Award from the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Premier Member of Honour Award from the Sociedad Iberoamericana de Neonatologia, Magnolia Award from the Shanghai government and Honorary President of the Xiamen Children’s Hospital from the Xiamen government.
Dr. Kofi Marfo, Executive Director, Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University. Dr. Kofi Marfo is Professor and Foundation Director, Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University (South-Central Asia, East Africa, and United Kingdom). He has previously held academic positions at the University of South Florida (USA), Kent State University (USA), Memorial University (Canada), the University of Alberta (Canada), and the University of Cape Coast (Ghana).A graduate of the University of Alberta (PhD, 1985), Professor Marfo’s current scholarly interests are in the areas of developmental science and childhood interventions, advancement of a global interdisciplinary science of human development, and paradigmatic issues in behavioral science and education research. He has published extensively in the areas of early child development, childhood disability, early intervention efficacy, parent-child interaction, and behavioral development in children adopted into North America from China. His scholarship has been cited across many disciplines in over 180 different journals worldwide. He is co-leader of an initiative to support child development research capacity-building in Africa and is a co-convener of the African Scholars in Child/Early Child Development Workshop series. Most recently, he has supported the successful establishment, in 2015, of the African Early Childhood Network and serves as Founding Chair of its Board of Trustees. Professor Marfo has been a Residential Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, a finalist for Distinguished University Professor (University of South Florida), a U.S. National Academy of Education Spencer Fellow, and an Irving B. Harris Mid-Career Leadership Fellow (Zero to Three Organization—USA). He served on the WHO Task Force on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), officially endorsed by the 54th World Health Assembly on May 22, 2001. He was a founding member of the Bio-behavioral and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD—USA). He has been a member of the Governing Council of the Society for Research in Child Development and currently serves on advisory boards for two private foundations with substantial investments in early childhood development.
Dr. Stephen McGurk, Vice President, Programs and Partnership Branch, International Development Research Centre. Stephen McGurk is an economist and sinologist who has spent more than three decades studying Asia’s rural development. He has extensive experience in research for development, as a research leader, research manager, researcher, and technical advisor. As IDRC’s Vice-President, Programs and Partnership Branch, McGurk oversees all of the Centre’s research programming. Prior to taking up this leadership, McGurk led the Centre’s Agriculture and Environment Program which is dedicated to supporting research to increase agricultural productivity and food and water security while also ensuring environmental sustainability. He previously served as Regional Director in IDRC’s South Asia and China Office in Delhi, between 2006 and 2012, and in IDRC’s Southeast and East Asia office in Singapore, between 2000 and 2006. Between 1992 and 2000, McGurk worked with the Ford Foundation in Beijing, where he was responsible for its economic security program in China. He taught environmental and resource economics at the University of California in 1990-1992 and worked with the World Bank on China’s rural development between 1986 and 1992. McGurk has a PhD (Development Economics) and MA (Nutrition) from Stanford University’s Food Research Institute and a BA (Chinese/Political Science) from the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Karlee Silver, Vice President, Programs, Grand Challenges Canada. Karlee Silver is Vice President Programs for Grand Challenges Canada. Dr. Silver is responsible for the strategy of the Stars in Global Health, Saving Lives at Birth, Saving Brains and Global Mental Health programs. She is a thought leader for the Every Woman Every Child Innovation Marketplace and helps manage the Fellows who contribute to the Innovation Marketplace activities. Dr. Silver has been with Grand Challenges Canada since it launched, and led the process of selecting the organization’s prioritized grand challenges. Prior to joining Grand Challenges Canada, Dr. Silver trained in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Kain at the Sandra Rotman Centre in Toronto, first as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellow, then as a MITACS Elevate postdoctoral fellow, where she helped to identify host responses of malaria infection in pregnant women to harness for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Dr. Silver received her doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she attended as a Rhodes Scholar and trained in genetics and immunology under the supervision of Professor Richard Cornall and Professor Sir John Bell. An accumulation of inspirations, including traveling through southern Africa after Oxford, led to a refocus towards global health. Witnessing both the strength of women to sustain their families and communities, and the vulnerability of these same women to the consequences of poverty inspired Dr. Silver to apply herself to health issues of women in developing countries.

Bringing migration home: International reporting in an interconnected world
2017-04-27 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Last year, millions of people left their homes and moved to a new country. Seeking opportunities, seeking refuge, seeking a new future. This year, global forces like poverty, climate change, and conflict will keep driving people across borders. What are their stories? And how will their stories be told?
On April 27th, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) hosted Shannon Gormley as she explained why it’s so important for Canadian journalists to report from the places refugees and migrants are leaving.
An Ottawa Citizen global affairs columnist and freelance journalist, Shannon Gormley was a 2015 recipient of the Fellowship for International Development Reporting. Her fellowship project focused on the vulnerable residents of Kiribati, a country which has become famous for its approach to dealing with rising sea levels and climate change.
AKFC was pleased to present this event in partnership with the CAJ.

Shannon Gormley is an Ottawa Citizen global affairs columnist and freelance journalist. Her work focuses on international trends in rights and democracy, drawn from her reporting throughout the Middle East, Southern Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

In partnership:

Financial Support:

Your journey starts here: Information sessions for the International Youth Fellowship Program
2017-01-17 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
January 17, 2017 – For 28 years, Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s International Youth Fellowship Program has brought the best of Canada to the world to change people’s lives for the better. The Fellowship offers an international development training program and an eight-month overseas placement to recent university graduates and young professionals who are 30 years of age or younger.
Find out how you can join us in making a difference in the world. We hosted two online information sessions for our 2017 International Youth Fellowship Program.
Each session was led by two former Fellows: Lauren Stanley and Jamie Charlebois on January 10, and Jessica Poulin and Elizabeth McSheffrey on January 12. They discussed their experiences with the program and answered participants’ questions.
View the January 12 session:

We would greatly appreciate if you could help us promote this exceptional program by sharing this news with young professionals in your networks.
Visit our website and FAQ page to learn more about the International Youth Fellowship Program.

Séance d'information sur le Programme de stages pour jeunes en développement international
2017-01-14 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Le 7 janvier 2016 – Nous avons offert une séance d’information en ligne sur notre Programme de stages pour jeunes en développement international. La séance a été animée par deux anciens participants du programme : Nabeel Ahmed et Faaria Meghji. Nabeel et Faaria ont parlé de leur expérience avec le programme et ont répondu aux questions des participants. Veuillez noter que la séance a eu lieu en anglais.
La séance a eu lieu le jeudi 14 janvier à 18 h HNE sur Google Hangout. Regardez ici (en anglais seulement) :

Pour en apprendre davantage, veuillez consulter notre site Web sur le Programme de stages pour jeunes en développement international et notre page FAQ.
Nos présentateurs :
Faaria Meghji
Faaria Meghji possède un baccalauréat en commerce de l’Université Queen. Elle a travaillé en planification financière d’entreprise pendant deux ans avant de partir pour l’Inde et le Bangladesh dans le cadre du Programme de stages pour jeunes de la Fondation Aga Khan Canada. En Asie du Sud-Est, Faaria a travaillé pour CARE avec des communautés rurales marginalisées dans les domaines du développement des microentreprises, de l’agriculture et du changement climatique, de la sécurité alimentaire et de l’autonomisation des femmes. Elle a interviewé des récipiendaires, rédigé des rapports d’évaluation, créé des plans d’entreprise et de projet, produit des ressources de mobilisation des donateurs et analysé des données qualitatives et quantitatives. Sa plus grande réalisation a été de coordonner l’élaboration d’une proposition de projet fructueuse auprès du gouvernement suisse pour une somme de neuf millions de francs suisses. Faaria travaille actuellement en planification financière d’entreprise à Toronto, mais commencera une maîtrise en travail social l’an prochain, son expérience internationale l’ayant motivée encore davantage à se consacrer à des causes sociales.
Nabeel Ahmed
Nabeel est coordonnateur de réseau pour Social Enterprise Toronto, un réseau autodirigé d’entreprises sociales sans but lucratif dans la région du Grand Toronto qui créent des occasions d’emploi et de formation pour des personnes marginalisées.
Dans le cadre du Programme, Nabeel a travaillé dans le volet de la microfinance et des microentreprises internationales en tant qu’analyste financier à l’Université de l’Asie centrale à Bichkek, au Kyrgyzstan. Il est resté actif en développement international par le biais de son travail avec Pakathon et avec l’Association pour le développement du Pakistan.
Nabeel détient un baccalauréat de l’Institut de l’administration des affaires à Karachi, au Pakistan, ainsi qu’un certificat en administration publique et leadership de l’Université Ryerson, à Toronto. Il aime jouer au cricket et participer à de bonnes discussions, et il s’intéresse à la culture (en particulier celles du sous-continent sud-asiatique).

Cautionary tales of complex causation: Qualitative and mixed method impact assessment of climate change and livelihood transformations in Africa
2016-10-20 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
Participants joined Aga Khan Foundation Canada for the fifth event of our series Measuring Development Impact with Professor James Copestake from the University of Bath. Dr. Copestake’s research takes a fresh, empirically grounded look at how we can strengthen qualitative and mixed method impact evaluation by benchmarking different methods against each other. Dr. Copestake drew upon his own action research into the complex causal attribution problems arising from climate change and livelihood transformations in Ethiopia and Malawi.

James Copestake is Professor of International Development at the University of Bath. His research interests include rural development and agrarian change; development finance, microfinance and aid management; definition and measurement of well-being and poverty; and the global political economy of development. James was Principal Investigator for the ESRC-DFID funded ‘Assessing Rural Transformations’ (ART) project. The ART consortium includes Evidence for Development alongside the University of Bath, Gorta Self Help Africa and Farm Africa, and seeks to broaden the range of credible and cost-effective evaluation methodologies available for assessing rural development interventions in complex contexts.

Undertaken with the financial support of:

How FinTech can tackle global poverty
2016-10-19 | Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K6, Canada
But innovations in financial technology – or FinTech – have the potential to break the cycle of poverty. Participants learned how new technologies at the forefront of the FinTech revolution, such as mobile banking, can unlock new opportunities for the world’s poor, by providing access to new markets and promoting financial inclusion.
Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Invest Ottawa, and MaRS brought together the FinTech and international development community in Canada like never before, in order to foster new collaborations, increase community engagement, and share knowledge.

The MaRS #FinTechCA series crossed three cities in three weeks—Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal—for a national series of fireside chats and keynotes to address the latest technology trends, global opportunities, and regulatory changes rocking the financial world.
What was discussed?
• What does the future of FinTech look like from an innovation and regulatory perspective?• The flow of venture capital into Canadian FinTech.• What do VCs look for in FinTech companies?• FinTech in the global context: what opportunities exist?• Which Canadian cities are making an impact on the FinTech ecosystem?• How FinTech can help alleviate poverty globally.• How can we nurture more innovation and investment in FinTech?• How is MaRS bringing together the major players in FinTech?

Arti Modi, CEO, LendingArch | @artimodi_
Adam Nanjee, Head of Financial Technology, MaRS Discovery District | @adamnanjee
Tim Attia, CEO, Slice Labs | @TAttia
Laurence Cooke, Founder & CEO, nanoPay | @laurencecooke
Glenn Campbell, Director, Financial Institutions Division, Financial Sector Policy, Finance Canada
Benoit Destouches, Finance Director, Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance
Karen Letain, Director of Marketing and Communications, Invest Ottawa | @kletain

The MaRS FinTech cluster connects the financial services sector with startups developing next generation technology in emerging payments, financial services, peer-to-peer transactions, alternative lending and crypto-currencies. MaRS offers high-growth fintech startups the most comprehensive set of resources in Canada. Through a strategic network of partners, the FinTech cluster supports entrepreneurs with rapid validation, access to investment, product feedback, sales opportunities and business advisory services.

In partnership with:

Undertaken with the financial support of:
