Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

At the core of AKF's strategy lies community involvement and mobilization, which are pivotal for establishing local ownership and sustaining program interventions. In India, the emphasis lies in nurturing and fortifying enduring community institutions, empowering them to provide essential social and financial services. The process of federating these groups enhances their connectivity with local governmental initiatives, facilitating access to entitlements and public services. Additionally, the foundation extends assistance to migrants and other vulnerable demographics in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, enabling them to access state entitlements.
Throughout 2020, the foundation supported 11,900 civil society organizations, collectively representing more than 1.1 million individuals. These entities play a significant role in galvanizing communities to strategize, execute, and oversee initiatives spanning agriculture, watershed development, and irrigation management.

In India, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) collaborates with communities to enhance habitats by implementing a range of interventions, spanning from the initial planning and design stages to construction and technical support for both housing and essential infrastructure. AKAH conducts technical evaluations of community-driven housing projects undertaken by local stakeholders. In this capacity, it offers professional guidance and suggestions encompassing architectural plans, structural blueprints, financial viability, legal considerations, construction oversight, and post-project maintenance. Additionally, AKAH provides building designs with ongoing construction supervision. It has constructed secure housing for disadvantaged families in Vapi, Pune, and Mumbai. Moreover, AKAH addresses the safety of existing vulnerable housing and structures, performing swift structural assessments and furnishing technical assistance for repair and retrofitting purposes.

In 2001, AKES introduced the Shishu Pahel Padhati (child-initiated learning) methodology, which forms the foundation for all curriculum endeavors and is harmonized with the internationally recognized HighScope preschool curriculum. This approach has been implemented and expanded within various AKDN initiatives in India, particularly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Presently, it is also integrated by AKDN into a quality enhancement initiative for Government Anganwadis (childcare centers) in Gujarat.
AKES fosters collaboration among parents, educators, and community members to collectively support the growth of children within their communities. This results in a comprehensive, developmentally fitting, and culturally pertinent learning environment for young learners. With a focus on consistent quality enhancement in line with global benchmarks, AKES ensures that its programs establish a secure and nurturing learning sphere for children while fulfilling their developmental requisites.

In pursuit of enhancing financial inclusivity for India's most marginalized communities, the foundation has established over 5,000 self-help groups (SHGs) in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, with 86 percent of members being women. These groups have collectively accumulated savings exceeding $1 million since 2002. This financial support has enabled members to cover healthcare expenses, invest in existing and new livelihood activities, and repay debts to moneylenders. The efforts are focused towards connecting SHGs with formal financial services, such as Development Credit Bank (DCB), which, with AKRSP's assistance, expanded its presence in tribal areas since 2009. The foundation also facilitates the access of collectives and microenterprises, especially those serving vulnerable groups like women and tribal youth, to government economic support programs.

AKF focuses on enhancing the economic conditions of agriculturally dependent communities by boosting productivity and diversity. This is achieved by forging stronger ties with agricultural traders and processors, allowing smallholders to sell better quality produce at higher prices, ensuring food security, augmenting incomes, and aiding in climate change adaptation. The programs encompass various crops, including staple and cash crops, high-value horticulture, and livestock. Efforts involve introducing improved seed varieties, organic fertilizers, and pesticides, alongside enhancing soil and water management. In Gujarat, AKRSP's three-decade-long work in water-scarce regions emphasizes water conservation and community-based irrigation. Techniques like the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) have led to significant yield increases, enabling farmers to allocate more land to cash crops. This success has extended to other crops, like maize and wheat.

For the most economically challenged households lacking significant land or productive resources, livestock stands as a vital asset. The foundation strives to enhance animal husbandry practices through training, facilitating access to veterinary services, and establishing connections with local dairies.
A noteworthy success story is the goat-rearing initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, contributing to families earning an additional US$500 annually. A pivotal element is the promotion of "pashu sakhis," women animal health workers who provide cost-effective animal care within remote villages. This practice has now extended to Bihar, within a broader women's empowerment program. This initiative enhances the capacity of women self-help group members to adopt contemporary veterinary techniques for small ruminants and even train as para-veterinarians themselves. The ultimate goal involves developing a group of 4,000 para-vets to reach out to 800,000 women engaged in goat rearing.

The foundation enhances the connection between agriculture and nutrition by implementing diverse cropping systems and adopting farming practices that prioritize nutrition. These initiatives yield positive nutrition outcomes, including decreased rates of stunting and anaemia. Additionally, the foundation has established community-managed grain banks to further support vulnerable households in tandem with these endeavours.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture has collaborated with the Golden Hive Foundation to ensure the safety and thriving of bees at Sunder Nursery, Delhi. Their joint efforts involve establishing a robust bee ecosystem through both artificial and natural hives, including ground-level hives. The foundation oversees a small demonstrative apiary, raising awareness about the declining bee population.