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. We bring together human, financial, and technical resources to some of the poorest and most marginalized communities, with an emphasis on women and girls, investing in human potential, expanding opportunity, and improving quality of life.

Dispatch from the Field: The magic of the micro-forest

Gertrude and Peter are Regional Partnerships Fellows in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Read their reflections on working on the AKDN’s micro-forest initiative.

It takes a village: Raising healthy, happy children in Tajikistan

Research shows that 80% of a child’s brain development occurs within their first 1,000 days of life – making this

Transforming Communities, One Teacher at a Time

In Tanzania, children are often considered a woman’s responsibility. But teachers like Ali are challenging this gender stereotype.

Meet the Fellows: Dialing in from Tanzania

Meet Gertrude and Peter, our International Youth Fellows who are currently working in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

AKFC’s Speaker Series on Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Our event series aims to bring together practitioners, advocates, and others who share an interest in exploring and discussing how

In Their Hands: Supporting adolescent girls and their communities in Uganda

Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world – Uganda has a 3.7% population

How two entrepreneurs are challenging gender inequality in Pakistan

Access to financial services like loans can be challenging in remote and rural communities, like Safia and Hameeda’s village in Pakistan.

How Canada supports girls in Afghanistan, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, and Tajikistan

On the tenth anniversary of International Day of the Girl, learn how Canadian investments are supporting and making a difference for girls in Central Asia.

Advancing gender equality through advocacy in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan

In 2021, UCA’s Civil Society Initiative established the School for the Advancement of Gender Equality, the first of its kind in Central Asia.