Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

Organisational Profile

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private development agencies working to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve their living conditions and opportunities, especially in Africa and Asia. The Network's agencies work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion and its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society. AKDN aims to contribute to the development of an economically dynamic, politically stable, intellectually vibrant and culturally tolerant Tajikistan. The Network works towards this goal by supporting the establishment of programmes and institutions that can allow the government, private sector and civil society to play complementary roles in increasing prosperity and creativity within a pluralistic society. As in other parts of the world where it has substantial programmes, AKDN operates in Tajikistan under an Agreement of Cooperation signed with the Government of Tajikistan in 1995 and enjoys diplomatic status.The Agencies/Affiliates of AKDN that are currently implementing programmes in various parts of the country and in various sectors, are Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), University of Central Asia (UCA), Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP), Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance, and Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP), a project of the AKF. The First MicroFinance Bank and Tourism Promotion Service (Tajikistan) have been established in 2003.
A more detailed description of the AKDN Agencies is provided in their individual sections (please see the reports from each of the agencies).

AKDN and its Agencies and Affiliates support programmes and projects in different domains, including humanitarian assistance, rural and agriculture development, education, health, banking and micro credit, telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, tourism, culture, disaster preparedness, and others.
AKDN, together with the Governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, is a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Narcotic Problems in Central Asia.
Programmes and projects supported by individual AKDN Agencies and Affiliates are described in their specific sections.

Future Programming Direction

The AKDN and its Agencies and Affiliates will continue their national programmes; look for opportunities to expand where feasible; engage in policy dialogue with the Government, donors and other agencies and actively seek to promote regional cooperation.