What We Do

Nearly half of the world’s population — more than 3.5 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty (less than USD $1.90 a day), the majority of whom are in Africa and Asia.

Aga Khan Foundation Canada tackles the root causes of this poverty through a holistic and interconnected set of programs. These initiatives address people’s most pressing needs and enable them to unlock their full potential, with a particular focus on marginalized groups like women and girls.

Our programs aim to ensure access to high quality education and health care, ensure food security, improve economic well-being, and develop resilient communities and societies.

Dispatch from the Field: Running Water

The International Youth Fellowship program helps young Canadian professional launch careers in development by working for a host organization in Africa or Asia. The program is supported by the Government of Canada and Aga Khan Foundation Canada, through the funds raised by World Partnership Walk and Golf.

Gender and climate change: An interview with Onno Ruhl

Aga Khan Foundation Canada sat down with Onno Ruhl during a visit to Canada to talk about the links between climate change and gender equality.

What does empowering women look like in Afghanistan?

The Afghanistan Women’s Empowerment Program (AWEP) is a four-year project that aims to advance women’s empowerment through increasing the social and economic participation of women in the provinces of Baghlan, Bamyan, and Takhar.

Leading the charge

Elaha Elham feels very lucky to have become a nurse. The first female in her family to complete her education,

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.

Youthful and Innovative: A City Like No Other

Rosie Jervase was part of the 2018-2019 cohort of the International Youth Fellowship Program. She was placed at the Aga Khan University’s East Africa Institute in Nairobi.

Reaching the most vulnerable

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

To see others as you wish to be seen

Taylor Marlow was part of the 2018-2019 cohort of the International Youth Fellowship Program. She was placed at the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.