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.

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

Pathways to Innovation: Strengthening Mathematics, Science, and Economic Policy Capacity in Afghanistan and Central Asia (P2I)

Duration: 2017-2020 Location: Afghanistan, Tajikistan Reach: 51,175 people Budget:  $2.2 million (International Development Research Centre: $1.5 million; AKFC: $500,000; Ministry of

Assessment of Different Implementation Models of Health and Health-related Sustainable Development Goals (IM-SDG)

Duration: 2018-2019 Location: Global Reach: This is a research project with no direct beneficiaries. Budget: $560,000 (International Development Research Centre: $280,000;