Alex Thier: A New Investment Model for Afghanistan

When I imagine the holy grail of sustainable development in a rural Afghan province, it is a cycle of inclusive economic growth and investment which, in turn, finances social development efforts with a high level of community engagement. This dream took a significant step closer to reality this week.

I’m proud to announce that the United States government has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a new and innovative public-private partnership in Afghanistan with the Aga Khan Foundation. This MOU establishes the framework for USAID’s work with AKDN to create a ground-breaking private sector-led model for development in Afghanistan – a model that focuses on economic growth and sustainably.

via Alex Thier: A New Investment Model for Afghanistan.

U.S. Government and Aga Khan Foundation to Launch Investment Fund for Afghanistan

Friday, February 8, 2013: Washington, DC: The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) at a private ceremony today that will establish the first investment fund in Badakhshan, Afghanistan to invest in social development projects.

When the fund is finalized, USAID and AKF will each provide $30 million over a five year period, subject to the availability of funds, to help leverage the Afghan private sector to advance social development.

via U.S. Government and Aga Khan Foundation to Launch Investment Fund for Afghanistan | U.S. Agency for International Development.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos
http://www.partnershipsinaction.org
https://twitter.com/StateDept/status

Aid pours in from Japan, US for Sindh flood survivors | Pakistan Today

ISLAMABAD – In response to the Government of Pakistan’s disaster declaration on September 9, the United States has immediately begun providing a broad range of assistance to Sindh communities affected by this year’s floods including food supplies for more than 50,000 families.

“Assistance provided by the US will help thousands of flood-affected families over the next few weeks,” said Andrew Sisson, director of the US Agency for International Development Mission, according to a US embassy’s statement issued on Tuesday. “This support is part of the broader US Government commitment to assisting the people of Pakistan by supporting long-term development in times of immediate crisis,” it said.

It will be delivered by local and international organizations specialising in relief work. Already, USAID-funded food packages have reached 23,000 families in seven districts of Sindh (Badin, Mirpurkas, Tando Muhammed Khan, Tando Allah Ya, Tharparker, Umarkot, and Hyderabad). This assistance was delivered by the International Organisation for Migration. USAID also paid for nearly 60 trucks to deliver relief to affected areas and 1,000 plastic tarpaulins for shelter and is financing other efforts to coordinate relief activities.

In the coming days, US-funded relief supplies, including shelter materials, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene provisions will be provided through the Rural Support Programs Network, a non-governmental organization. The US is also contributing funding for 26,000 food packages to be distributed by the World Food Program. The US has also provided funding to the Aga Khan University’s mobile health unit, which is providing health care to affected communities in to Badin District.

via Aid pours in from Japan, US for Sindh flood survivors | Pakistan Today | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia.

Providing community-based education in rural Afghanistan : CRS Program Quality

Improving access and equity for marginalized groups is one of CRS’ strategic priorities in education. The agency has made this a priority in Afghanistan since 2002 by supporting an Accelerated Learning program for rural children and youth who had previously missed out on schooling. Today, CRS supports community-based education in villages such as Shah Mohammad’s as part of the Partnership for Advancing Community Education in Afghanistan (PACE-A). PACE-A is a USAID-funded project that CRS implements in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation, CARE and the International Rescue Committee.

via Providing community-based education in rural Afghanistan : CRS Program Quality.

Historical Qazi Garden To Be Restored In Old Kabul

In humanitarian news, the United States donates US$533,000 to restore a historic Afghan garden. The US Agency for International Development is collaborating with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Kabul Municipality to complete phase two of the project to replenish Kabul’s historic Baghe Qazi garden.

USAID Grants $5.2 Million to AKF USA for Relief & Recovery of the Floods in Pakistan

The Office of the U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) at the U.S. Agency for International Development granted Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA) $5.2 million for AKDN’s multi-agency response to the Pakistan floods. AKF USA is contributing $1 million to secure this level of funding in an agreement signed by Chief Executive Officer, Mirza Jahani (right), pictured with Mark Ward (left), head of OFDA, at the Foundation’s offices in Washington DC on October 26, 2010.

More: http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/empowered/nov2010.html

AKRSP distributed Agricultural Units among Flood Affected | GroundReport

CHITRAL: Agriculture inputs were distributed free of cost among the flood affected farmers of the entire district. These items containing on DAP, Urea (fertilization), certified seed of Wheat and vegetable seed were provided free of cost to flood affected farmers by Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) UN. Some 3161 items in 2841 bags were distributed among the flood affected people at Chitral, Ayun, Karimabad and Mulkoh (upper Chitral).

via AKRSP distributed Agricultural Units among Flood Affected | GroundReport.

USAID Impact in Afghanistan, working with Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Bill Frej said he recently travelled three hours by jeep to visit a USAID program in a village in Bamiyan at 10,000 feet. He was struck to see children, boys and girls, being taught to read, write and even speak English by a trained teacher in such an isolated place. “USAID and our development partner, Aga Khan Trust, were the first development organizations to visit this village,” he said.

Frej also points to major healthcare improvements as a result of U.S. government aid activity. “I’ve been to 28 of the 34 provinces and in almost every visit, seen midwives training. [Afghanistan] had the highest mortality rate of mothers and children in childbirth in the world and it has been completely turned around,” he said. Frej called Afghanistan one of the best success stories “anywhere in the developing world” in terms of gains in mother-child health. “USAID has a great deal to be proud of.”

YouTube video: Bill Frej talks about USAID’s achievements working with Aga Khan Foundation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCYvZ2X98aw#t=2m32s

via USAID Impact » Afghan Aid Chief Steps Down.

U.S. Announces $1.48 million Community Grant to Aga Khan Foundation Mozambique to fight Malaria

October 6, 2009 – Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) – Mozambique

AKF, in partnership with Progresso and the country’s Ministry of Health (MoH), will implement a three-year, $1.48 million malaria prevention and treatment project targeting nine districts in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique. The program will directly reach 400,000 people, including an estimated 110,000 pregnant women and children under 5 by delivering malaria prevention and education programs increasing access to ACTs, and promoting household ownership and proper use of ITNs. The program aims to promote sustainable malaria control in the target areas by strengthening community capacities for health promotion activities and treatment services, and by establishing strong linkages between communities and government health care services.

http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2009/pr091006.html

U.S. Announces Community Grant Awards to Fight Malaria – Aga Khan Foundation will implement 3-year project in Mozambique

Tue Oct 6, 2009

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced over $10.5 million in grants to seven organizations working in six countries in Africa to extend malaria prevention and control activities in communities most affected by the disease, particularly children under age 5 and pregnant women. The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), an interagency initiative led by USAID with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as key partners.

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) – Mozambique
AKF, in partnership with Progresso and the country’s Ministry of Health (MoH), will implement a three-year, $1.48 million malaria prevention and treatment project targeting nine districts in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique.  The program will directly reach 400,000 people, including an estimated 110,000 pregnant women and children under 5 by delivering malaria prevention and education programs increasing access to ACTs, and promoting household ownership and proper use of ITNs. The program aims to promote sustainable malaria control in the target areas by strengthening community capacities for health promotion activities and treatment services, and by establishing strong linkages between communities and government health care services.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/

Muslim Outreach Event at USAID Headquarters

Remarks by Henrietta Fore Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and Administrator, USAID
Muslim Outreach Event USAID Headquarters, Washington, DC January 7, 2009

I am delighted to be a part of this important event that coincides with a new lunar and solar year along with the recent culmination of the annual Hajj. And I send my warmest wishes to all those who associate themselves with the annual pilgrimage.

Millions of Muslims have gathered from around the world to commemorate the stories of Abraham, Ishmael, Haggar and the building of a civilization based on the values of equality, egalitarianism, and equity. Today also marks the observance of Ashura – the remembrance of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom.

—-snip—-

Before I end, I would like to thank our distinguished guests Undersecretary James Glassman, Special Envoy Sada Cumber, and Mr. Iqbal Noor Ali of the Aga Khan Foundation USA. I would like to again acknowledge the Aga Khan Foundation USA’s 25th anniversary of its partnership with USAID on behalf of the Aga Khan Development Network; and offer my own congratulations to His Highness the Aga Khan on completing his 50th year as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

USAID will continue to play a leadership role, and will work with all of you, as partners, in the effort to ensure economic prosperity where it is needed most.

—-snip—-

http://www.usaid.gov/press/speeches/2009/sp090107.html

USAID program in Sindh

excerpt:

KARACHI: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Sindh Department of Education and Literacy Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand USAID’s nationwide $90 million ED-LINKS program in Sindh province. Also today, education officials launched two workshops for educators in Karachi and Islamabad as part of the ED-LINKS program.

-snip-

Earlier in the day, ED-LINKS launched its activities in Sindh with a 10-week leadership and management program for 125 head teachers at Aga Khan University.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=130197

Voice of America News

Aga Khan Foundation to train 400 youths of various areas in Pakistan in the hospitality sector

KARACHI: The Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKF-P), in collaboration with USAID, Education and Employment Alliance (EEA), International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) will train 400 youths of various areas of Pakistan in the hospitality sector.

The Livelihood Up-gradation and Development of Youth Programme focuses on building technical and management capacities of approximately 400 youth (within the age limit of 18-29 years) in Karachi, Lahore, Muzaffarabad, Quetta, Gilgit and Swat.

The Karachi training was inaugurated on Monday at the Pakistan Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Karachi; which is a partner organisation in this programme. Other partner organisations include Pakistan-Austria Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Swat; College of Tourism and Hotel Management, Lahore; Tourism Promotion Services (Pakistan) Serena Hotels, Chefs Association of Pakistan, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Gilgit, Karakoram International University, Gilgit; NGO Resource Centre, Karachi and the National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC).

The office of Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) was established in 1969 on the invitation of the Government of Pakistan. It is a branch of the Aga Khan Foundation (headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland), which is a private, international development agency committed to supporting disadvantaged communities irrespective of race, gender, religious affiliation or political persuasion.

Source

Kyrgyzstan: Osh Earthquake

On January 1, 2008 three separate earthquakes, of which the largest one had a magnitude of 5.6 occurred in the South of Kyrgyzstan (40.346°N, 72.939°E), in a remote area some 30 kilometres from the city of Osh, causing damage to housing and infrastructure.

During the coordination meeting held on 8 January 2008, the Ministry of Emergency Situations informed that further assessments in the area found a total of 968 displaced families (approx. 5,300 people) that are in need of humanitarian assistance. They explained that assessments are still ongoing, specifically in settlements at higher altitude, which explains the revision of the figures.

–snip–

A representative of USAID plus representatives from the Aga Khan Foundation are expected to arrive in Osh from Tajikistan on 8 January to join with the other ongoing assessment teams.

Relief Web
News Source 1
News Source 2

Posted in Opinion section of International Herald Tribune

Pakistan and the U.S.

Regarding the article “U.S. hopes to win Pakistani heart and minds” (July 16): Perhaps before the United States distributes any more of the $750 million intended “to win Pakistani hearts and minds” in that country’s tribal areas representatives of Usaid and the State Department ought to consult the Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, praised by development experts in the recent article “A jet-setter who mixes business and Islam” (July 10), is but one branch of the Aga Khan Development Network.

Other branches focus on health, education, rural development, civil society, gender and development, and the environment. The Aga Khan Foundation has supported successful projects in nearly all of these areas in Pakistan for many years. Surely the foundation’s expertise and experience could offer signposts to those elusive hearts and minds.

Cam Walker, Paris

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/17/opinion/edlet.php

Consider Nursery Education, Govt Told – Aga Khan Foundation

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
16 June 2007
Posted to the web 15 June 2007

By John Sserwaniko & Godfrey Seruyange
Mengo

The government of Uganda has been urged to interest itself with nursery and pre-primary school education. The call was made on Thursday by Minaz Khariman, the chairman of Madrasa Resource Centre, which is a project under the Aga Khan Foundation.

“Early child development is very key to our children’s human and psychological development yet it’s a component that has always not been adequately attended to. Whereas UPE is a commendable effort, it doesn’t adequately address the issue of Early Child Development,” said Mr. Minaz, calling on the government and donor agencies to commit more funding to Early child development programmes.

He also urged the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council to liaise with Madrasa Resource centre (MRC) to ensure that the over one million Muslim children aged between 2-8 years are mobilised to enrol into nursery schools.

Beside the AKF, Usaid and Uphold have been the major funders of the project. The function was meant to celebrate the completion of a collaborative grant the three organisations had injected into MRC activities.

Attended by AKF (Uganda) chairman Ajil Samji and representatives from Uphold and Usaid, the function took place at MRC offices in Mengo.

Mr Minaz used the occasion to correct the widespread perception that the Madrasa schools all over the world targeted only Muslims, saying even non Muslims were free to enrol.

“In fact of the 10,000 children who have gone through the MRC project, a significant number are non-Muslims,” he said. During the same function, certificates for 400 management committee members and 42 teachers from 15 nursery schools were awarded.

Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, who was the guest of honour, commended AKF for the innovation and promised to use his office to lobby more funding for the project.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200706151047.html

Education for Marginalized Children in Kenya – Project implemented by Aga Khan Foundation

Education for Marginalized Children in Kenya
total of U.S. $ 9.39 million has
been committed to this project

Coastweek – - Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Prof. Karega Mutahi was Chief Guest at the launch of the second phase Of Education For Marginalized Children In Kenya (EMACK) project hosted recently at the Mombasa Polytechnic.

A total of U.S. $ 9.39 million has been committed to this project. Key participants included:

MOE Education Secretary Prof. George I. Godia, USAID Mission Director Stephen Haykin, USAID Education Office Chief Dr. Sarah Wright, Coast PDE Connie Mogaka, Mohammed Mwinyipembe NEP PDE, AKF (EA) Regional CEO Arif Neky, EMACK Chief of Party Alex Alubisia, AKF (EA) Regional Program Manager Steve Mason and CRS Head of Programming Lutful Gofur.

EMACK is an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MOE) implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Source

New USAID / Aga Khan Foundation project in NE & Coastal Kenya

The United States government and the Ministry of Education have launched a 560 million shilling education programme for marginalized children in North Eastern and Coast provinces.

The programme that is set to begin immediately will emphsise the promotion of innovative models and strategies to ensure that all children have access to quality education.

The launch also marks the expansion of the programme from the five pilot districts of Kilifi, Mombasa, Garissa Kwale and Wajir to 15 in the two provinces.

The project is set to run until 2011 with support coming from generous donations of the people of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that will also be partnered with the Aga Khan Foundation.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Capacity Building Programme for members of Northern Areas Legislative Council Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP): Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Wednesday said the exchange of orientational visits would help promote understanding and enhance capacity building of the elected representatives.

He said while addressing the concluding ceremony held here in connection with the capacity building programme for members of Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) at Parliamentary Institute for Legislative Services (PIPS).

The study visit of NALC members to Islamabad has been organised by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Aga Khan Education Services Pakistan and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in collaboration with USAID under Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project.

The Deputy Speaker assured the members NALC of full support in capacity building of institutions in the Northern Areas.

He said it is our common goal to address all the areas which require strengthening in due course for which we would extend maximum assistance as per our understandings.

Sardar Yaqoob said that government has taken a number of steps for the socio-economic development of Northern Areas and particularly mentioned the construction of Diamer -Basha dam which would bring prosperity in the Northern Areas.

Lauding the working of PIPS, he said the institute seeks to strengthen and develop the capacity of parliamentarians and legislative staff not only at the national provincial level but also at the local bodies level.

The institute will help in nurturing and educating local expertise for legislative strengthening and remain a symbol of our commitment to democracy.

During the 10-day study tour, the members headed by Speaker NALC, Malik Muhammad Miskeen were given presentations on various subjects including devolution in Pakistan, prospects of devolution in Northern Areas, public-private partnership and its future prospects particularly the prospects of the hydro power production, budget formulation mechanism, education strategy, development issues in NAs and role of legislators in development.

AAP

Trip shines light on Pakistan – Organized to help teach educational curricula to the faculty at Aga Khan University

Dr. Willie Edwards, assistant professor of teacher education, took a trip to Karachi, Pakistan Dec. 2-14. The trip was to help teach educational curricula to the faculty at Aga Khan University.

A country with a population of 166 million people, Pakistan is located in southern Asia, located next to the Arabian Sea and bordering Afghanistan, Iran and China to the north. Edwards compared Karachi to New York City.

“It’s a lot more cosmopolitan than other areas in that region,” Edwards said.

Edwards also said he didn’t see any of the extremist fundamentalism that a lot of Americans think goes on in Pakistan.

“An American just doesn’t walk around there,” he said. “The driver would pick them up in the morning, spend the entire day at the university, then drive him back to the hotel.”

Edwards’ trip to Pakistan was made possible by the sponsorship of International Reading Association. The IRA is an international organization of researchers, teachers and administrators that help promote reading around the world. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) granted $88 million to bring in teachers to assist with the faculty. Aga Khan University is in its second year of a four-year grant.

“The faculty spoke English very well,” Edwards said. “Most are trained in the British style .”

At Southern, Edwards teaches literacy and remedial practicum courses. He works with students who work with kids who require help with reading.

Edwards started his college career at Kent State University in Ohio. He then transferred to the University of Las Vegas, where he finished his undergradute degree in 1980. Edwards later earned his master’s degree at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1988. Edwards received his doctorate at the University of Reno-Nevada in 2003.

“I always liked working in remedial education,” Edwards said. “Then I started to focus on reading after I found out that many kids needed help.”

The Chart Online

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