Regional cooperation and a commitment to pluralism are key to a country’s national development and stability, says His Highness the Aga Khan

Speaking at the Conference on Afghanistan in Geneva, His Highness the Aga Khan on November 28 reaffirmed his “enduring commitment to Afghanistan, and, most importantly, to its peoples.”

The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), joined Afghanistan’s President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Ministers from numerous countries and heads of development organizations working in Afghanistan who had gathered for the conference, according t press release issued by AKDN.

“As we come together to support the National Unity Government,” the Aga Khan said, “investing in civil society – encouraging private organizations designed to serve public goals – deserves equal attention.  Such institutions can be stabilizing factors and points of continuity.  That is why AKDN supports the full spectrum of civil society, devoting special attention to health, education, culture, community governance, and public-private partnerships to deliver other services.”

The Aga Khan also stated that “the experience of the past seventeen years has strongly reinforced my conviction that the path to sustainable peace in Afghanistan depends heavily on two key principles – regional cooperation, which is key for national development and stability; and a commitment to pluralism – the country’s diversity must be cultivated as a source of strength.  Everyone in all regions should benefit from investment that creates hope for the future.  This is a guiding principle of our investment in Afghanistan.”

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Geneva Conference was an opportunity to emphasize the importance of the development and reform agenda and the need to advance it as a constructive contribution to peace and security.  The Geneva Conference is expected to measure the impact of the US$ 15.2 billion that was committed by the international community at the previous Afghanistan conference in 2016.

AKDN and its partners have committed over US$ 1 billion in development assistance to Afghanistan since 2002.  Its economic projects now span over 287 cities and districts in the country’s 34 provinces.  Its social development and humanitarian work, which began in 1996 with humanitarian relief but now spans food security, education and healthcare, is focused in 61 districts in seven provinces.  Its cultural programs in Kabul, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan have restored over 90 historic buildings.

The Geneva-based Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is working to improve the quality of life for tens of millions of people in 30 countries.  Many of its institutions have been operating in the developing world for over 50 years.  Today, the Network employs over 80,000 people. Its budget for non-profit social and cultural activities stands at US$ 950 million.  The Network’s economic development arm, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, generates annual revenues of US$ 4.3 billion, but all of its surpluses are reinvested in further development activities, usually in fragile, remote or post-conflict regions.