The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) brings together a number of development agencies, institutions, and programs that work primarily in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa.The AKDN focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and the promotion of economic development. It is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.
While each agency pursues its own mandate, all of them work together within the overarching framework of the Aga Khan Development Network so that their different pursuits can interact and reinforce one another. Their 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.
AKDN consists of the following organizations:

• Aga Khan Academies
• Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance
• Aga Khan Education Services
• Aga Khan Foundation
• 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
• University of Central Asia

Funding Opportunities:

Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance:

AKAM operates today in 13 countries and its institutions offer a full range of products, such as simple individual or group loans, housing microfinance, micro-insurance products and loans for Small and Medium Enterprise activity. AKAM’s microfinance initiatives range from village lending cooperatives to self-standing microfinance institutions to full-fledged microfinance banks. Most AKAM institutions now offer a dozen or more loan and savings products, with varying terms and delivery methods. AKAM institutions offer both group and individual loans with differing maturities, grace periods, and interest rate structures. Each loan product is designed with the client’s needs and the purpose of the loan in mind, whether it be for working capital, acquisition of fixed assets or for housing, health, or education purposes.
To help guide this growth, AKAM Geneva works closely with all of its affiliates to establish standards for products and that best practices are reflected in their design.
These activities currently operate in: Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Egypt , Syria, East Africa, West Africa, Madagascar.
For further information on the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance in these countries please contact the Local Agency following this link:

http://www.akdn.org/akam_contact.asp

Aga Khan Foundation:

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) focuses on a small number of specific development problems by forming intellectual and financial partnerships with organizations sharing its objectives. Grants are normally given to local organizations interested in testing new solutions, in learning from experience and in being agents of lasting change. These organizations must share the Foundation's and AKDN's goals in the fields of health, education, rural development and strengthening of civil society. If no established group exists, the Foundation occasionally creates new organizations to tackle particularly important problems.
With few exceptions, the Foundation funds programs in countries where it has offices and local professional staff to monitor implementation (South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East). There are no formal application procedures. Before developing full proposals, enquiries should be made to the Foundation office in the country where the proposal originates or where the project would be executed. If there is no local AKF branch or affiliate, enquiries may be addressed to the Foundation office in Geneva.
For an overview of the AKF's Country Offices:

http://www.akdn.org/akf_grantees.asp

Scholarship: The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July.
For information on application procedures click on this link:

http://www.akdn.org/akf_scholarships.asp