Aga Khan Development Network

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a network of private, non-denominational development agencies established by the Aga Khan to improve the quality of life of the Ismailis and the broader societies in which they live particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, home to some of the poorest and most diverse populations in the world.[1] His Highness Prince Karim succeeded to the office of the 49th hereditary Imam - as spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims - in 1957.[1][2] Ismailis consist of an estimated 25-30 million adherents (about 20% of the world's Shia Muslim population).[3][4][5][6] The network focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and the promotion of economic development. The AKDN aims to improve living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. Its annual budget for not-for-profit activities is approximately US$600 million – mainly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.[7] The AKDN works in 30 countries around the world, and it employs over 80 thousand paid staff, mostly in developing countries.[8] While the agencies are secular, they are guided by Islamic ethics, which bridge faith and society.[1]

AKDN agencies

AKDN agencies work towards the elimination of global poverty; the promotion and implementation of secular pluralism;[9] the advancement of the status of women; and the honouring of Islamic art and architecture.[7][10][11][12][13]

The AKDN, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, Aga Khan Education Services, Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, Aga Khan Health Services, Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Aga Khan University, Focus Humanitarian Assistance, the University of Central Asia (UCA), the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the Aga Khan University are leading development organizations around the world, focusing on the improving the livelihoods of Ismailis.[2]:60 The Aga Khan’s secular development institutions — such as AKDN and AKRSP — provide services and direction for sustainable development around the world.[14]

Other AKDN agencies include Aga Khan Academies, the Aga Khan Foundation, and UCA.[15]

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development with its affiliates, Tourism Promotion Services, Industrial Promotion Services, and the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, seek to strengthen the role of the private sector in developing countries by supporting private sector initiatives in the development process. The fund and the foundation also encourage government policies that foster what the Aga Khan first called an enabling environment of favourable legislative and fiscal structures.

The agencies' common goal is to help the poor achieve a level of self-reliance whereby they are able to plan their own livelihoods and help those even more needy than themselves. To pursue their mandates, AKDN institutions rely on volunteers as well as remunerated professionals.

AKDN focuses on civil society with the Civil Society Programme.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture co-ordinates the Imamat's cultural activities. Its programmes include The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, and the Education and Culture Programme. The trust also provides financial support for the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. And also support to cultural development and prezervation with the Award for Architecture, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), Historic Cities, Museums & Exhibitions, Islamic Architecture, Music

Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), Financial Services, Industrial Promotion, Tourism Promotion, Media, Aviation Services are some of the agencies and programs offered for economic development.

In the field of education AKDN has its Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), Aga Khan University (AKU), Aga Khan Academies (AKA) and UCA.

Rural development

In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan the Aga Khan Foundation plays a central role in helping the entire village or collection of villages improve their standards of living.[14]:91

Long-term commitment

The AKDN agencies make a long-term commitment to the areas in which they work, guided by the philosophy that a humane, sustainable environment must reflect the choices made by people themselves of how they live and wish to improve their prospects.

AKDN institutions work in close partnership with the world's major national and international aid and development agencies. The AKDN itself is an independent self-governing system of agencies, institutions, and programmes under the leadership of the Ismaili Imamat. One of their sources of support are the Ismaili community with its tradition of philanthropy, voluntary service and self-reliance, and the leadership and material underwriting of the hereditary Imam and Imamat resources.

Philosophy of AKDN

The Aga Khan Development Network is working to improve the quality of life of the people. Exemplifying the same is the network of institutions active in more than 35 underdeveloped countries to provide support in the fields of health care, education and economics, and has become the symbol of hope for the under-privileged people.

Highlighting the functions and philosophy of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN),[1]

"The engagement of the Imamat in development is guided by Islamic ethics, which bridge faith and society. It is on this premise that I established the Aga Khan Development Network. This Network of agencies, known as the AKDN, has long been active in many areas of Asia and Africa to improve the quality of life of all who live there. These areas are home to some of the poorest and most diverse populations in the world."
— Aga Khan Keynote address at the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, 9 May 2004

Partners

The AKDN partners with like-minded institutions in the design, implementation and funding of innovative development projects.[16] Partners included governments of many nations: Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, in Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikstan, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, United Kingdom and many governmental agencies in the USA.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Keynote address at the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, 9 May 2004, retrieved 24 January 2016
  2. 1 2 Steinberg, Jonah (2011). Isma′ili Modern: Globalization and Identity in a Muslim Community. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9788121512541.
  3. ↑ Zachary, G. Pascal (9 July 2007). "The Aga Khan, a jet-setter who mixes business and Islam". NY Times. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Mapping the Global Muslim Population". The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "The 500 Most Influential Muslims – 2011". Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "His Highness the Aga Khan". Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Aga Khan joins Prime Minister's neighbourhood", Canada.com, 8 December 2008
  8. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Aga Khan Development Network. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Spiegel Interview with Aga Khan". Spiegel. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Aga Khan holds up Canada as model for the world". Vancouver Sun. 23 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund", Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
  12. ↑ Husain, Ishrat (15 December 2003). "Lessons for poverty reduction" (PDF).
  13. ↑ "Aga Khan Development Network". Aga Khan Development Network. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  14. 1 2 Hong, Caylee (2013). "Law and Liminality in Gilgit-Baltistan: Managing Natural Resources in Constitutional Limbo" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Poverty Law 2 (1): 103. doi:10.1080/09584935.2015.1040733.
  15. ↑ "Agencies". Aga Khan Development Network. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Partners". Aga Khan Development Network. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

External links

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