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: Breaking Barriers

“When I was pregnant, I used to work full time, even until the ninth month… My husband encouraged me. My

The spark of a brighter future

Programming supported by AKFC and the Government of Canada aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of some of the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, one of the poorest regions in the world.

In A Heartbeat: Finding Her Voice

“We don’t need to prove that women are strong. Women are already strong. Our mission is to change the perception

In A Heartbeat: Reporting for Duty

“Since I was seven, that was my dream. To become a nurse. I had a grandfather who was also a

In A Heartbeat: The Island Doctor

“The challenge of being a female doctor is that many of the patients come and instead of calling you doctor,

In A Heartbeat: The Family Man

“They used to deliver at home and everything ends there. But with me, the difference is that I take my

In A Heartbeat: Building Blocks

“This is the largest hospital in the region, it’s actually the sub-county hospital, meaning that it gets referrals from all

In A Heartbeat: The Volunteers

“After I [became a community health volunteer], I wanted to use it to save the lives of women. To save the

In A Heartbeat: Beyond the Clinic

“A disease is just a medical condition. What makes a difference is how soon or how close you can access