Agriculture and Food Security

The challenge: Boosting agricultural yields in food-scarce areas has been at the centre of the Aga Khan Foundation’s activities since it began. Agriculture remains the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 percent of today’s global population. The world’s 500 million small farms worldwide provide up to 80 percent of the food consumed.

However, 800 million people worldwide still lack regular access to adequate amounts of food. Adding to the traditional challenges is a changing climate that is impacting many farmers: global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by almost 50 percent since 1990, and Himalayan snow and ice are expected to decline 20 percent by 2030.

Our solution: We invest in tangible food security and good nutrition, to ensure that everyone has enough nutritious food, every day of the year. We work with farmers to diversify the crops they produce, provide training on nutrition using local ingredients, and collaborate with governments, businesses, and communities to develop sustainable, reliable, and resilient food systems – from field to market to table.

A collage of headshots from the 2023 International Youth Fellows.

Meet the Fellows of 2023

AKFC’s International Youth Fellowship Program is a unique opportunity for young leaders in Canada to bring a global dimension to

Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Project (AHRP)

Duration: 2023-2024 Location: Afghanistan (Bamyan and Daikundi provinces) Reach: 731 women farmers (5,117 people indirectly reached through increased access to

From garbage to growth: How one woman is championing climate action in her community

Meet Mildred, a woman entrepreneur championing climate action in her community.

Afghanistan today: An interview with Dr. Najmuddin Najm, CEO of AKF Afghanistan

An insight into the current crisis in Afghanistan, how AKF is responding and why hope endures.

The world we want

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sometimes called the Global Goals, are a worldwide movement to break the cycle of poverty

Opportunity grows on trees

Four thriving enterprises that started with a little seed planted at a nutrition workshop.

Reaching the most vulnerable

Jaclyn Dolski was placed in Dushanbe, Tajikistan through AKFC’s fellowship program.

Partnership For Advancing Human Development In Africa And Asia (PAHDAA)

Duration: 2012-2018 Location: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Canada, Egypt, Uganda, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania

Health Action Plan For Afghanistan (HAPA)

Duration: 2015-2020 Location: Afghanistan Reach: 1.26 million (619,250 women and girls; 640,750 men and boys) Budget: $75.2 million (Global Affairs Canada: $55