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.

In A Heartbeat: Starting the conversation

Teresa is a youth peer mentor in Mozambique, who educates her peers about their reproductive and sexual health and rights.

Foundations for brighter futures: Illustrating Canadian support for education systems in Africa and Asia

Canadian investments in education are making a world of difference for girls and boys in Africa and Asia. The Foundations

Foundations for brighter futures: Illustrating Canadian support for girls’ education in crisis contexts

An illustration of how Canadian investments in education are making a world of difference for young women and girls.

A series of fortunate events: From a Fellow to a CFO

Inam Teja was part of the 2019 – 2020 AKFC International Youth Fellowship cohort and was placed with Accelerate Prosperity

Spotlight on Yasmin Karim, Gender Advisor for Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan

“Over my career, I have seen many gender advocates evolve and emerge. Society has also been transformed.”

Spotlight on Jennifer Elms, Gender Advisor at AKFC and AKF-US

“My hope would be that gender equality becomes so part of everybody’s DNA that integrating gender and using a gender lens will be a part of everyone.”

In their words: Gender equality and international development

We sat down with four gender advisors from across the AKDN to talk about their work and learn about development from their perspectives.

Spotlight on Nyambura Gathumbi, Regional Gender Advisor, AKF East Africa

My ultimate hope for the future is that we can transform the way we think, change our mindset around women, around girls, around gender issues.

Spotlight on Zohra Bano, Regional Gender Advisor for Aga Khan Foundation

“I have been working on projects that focus on auditing gender equality, economic empowerment, health, education, conflict resolution, resilience building, climate change, to name a few.”