Gender Equality

The challenge: We have seen significant reductions in global poverty since 1990, but not everyone has benefitted equally. Hundreds of millions of women and girls are still poor and remain disproportionately affected by poverty, including unequal access to resources, opportunities, and choices. According to UN women, not a single country in the world can claim to have achieved gender equality. Women and girls continue to face obstacles in law and culture which translate to a world where they are undervalued, work more, earn less, have fewer choices, and experience violence at home and in public.

Our solution: We strive towards a future where gender does not determine status, power to make decisions, or access to resources and services – a world where women, men, girls, and boys can all reach their full potential. We promote gender equality in all of our programs by engaging women and men, girls and boys, to address the underlying beliefs and practices that create and reinforce gender inequalities. We also empower the disadvantaged, whether male or female, to develop confidence and skills and take control over their lives, and invest in institutions and relationships that facilitate an environment that supports gender equality.

Beyond the conflict: How education is unlocking hope in Syria

Globally, an estimated 222 million children and youth living in situations affected by conflict do not have access to education

Teeko+ (TTS4)

Duration:  2022-2024 Location:  Pakistan Reach:  86,980 children; 62,721 women and female youth Budget:  $999,104 (GCC: $499,123; AKFC: $499,981) Teeko is

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

Making a buzz about plastic: Meet Patrice in Kenya

Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, impacting habitats and biodiversity, reducing our planet’s ability to adapt to climate change,

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

Preparing for parenthood: Childbirth classes in the Kyrgyz Republic

“I think all couples who are expecting a baby should take these classes.” Bektur lives in Kerben, a rural community

Meet Iddah: A young entrepreneur supporting accessible and sustainable menstrual health

Period poverty – the lack of access to menstrual products, sanitation, and information about menstruation – is a global health

Dispatch from the field: Cycling for peace & prosperity

Emilie Chiasson is a Social Science and Behaviourial Change Fellow in Kampala, Uganda, supporting the Aga Khan Foundation’s education projects

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.