Jubilees of His Highness the Aga Khan IV: Goals and Initiatives

1. Silver Jubilee (1982):  

   - Establishment of the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP): Aimed at improving rural livelihoods through community-driven development in South Asia and East Africa. 

a.     GOAL ONE: In twenty five years’ time span, improve the economic conditions so that populations in Northern areas and Chitral can meet the ever increasing costs of health and education and also become SELF SUSTAINING.

b.    GOAL TWO. Groom indigenous leadership capable of establishing democracy, (pre-requisite for meritocracy and pluralism) and also capable of planning for a better quality of life for their future without external inputs.

 c.     GOAL THREE: Facilitate establishment of Knowledge Society in the Program Area. 

   - Expansion of Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) and Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS): Strengthening access to quality education and healthcare.  

   - Founding of the Aga Khan University (AKU): Chartered in 1983, focusing on higher education and research in medicine, nursing, and education.  

   - Community Development: Emphasis on social welfare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment in marginalized regions.  

2. Golden Jubilee (2007):  

   - Global Centre for Pluralism: Established in Ottawa to promote inclusive governance and cultural diversity.  

   - Aga Khan Museum in Toronto: Launched to showcase Islamic art and heritage.  

   - University of Central Asia (UCA) Expansion: Enhancing higher education and research in mountainous regions of Central Asia.  

   - Aga Khan Academies Network: Creating globally minded secondary schools across Africa and Asia.  

   - Economic Initiatives: Launch of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) and infrastructure projects like the Bujagali Hydroelectric Plant in Uganda.  

   - Cultural Restoration: Revitalization of historic sites, such as the Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and Aleppo Citadel in Syria.  

3. Diamond Jubilee (2017):  

   - Healthcare Expansion: New Aga Khan University hospitals in East Africa and South Asia, focusing on advanced medical care.  

   - Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH): Addressing climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable habitat development.  

   - Environmental Sustainability: Renewable energy projects and green infrastructure initiatives.  

   - Cultural Heritage Projects: Continued restoration of historic sites (e.g., Kabul’s Bagh-e-Babur) through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).  

   - Diamond Jubilee Investments: Endowment funds to ensure long-term financial stability for community institutions.  

   - Education and Civil Society: Launch of the Aga Khan Schools 2030 program, partnerships with global universities, and emphasis on volunteerism and civil society engagement.  

a. Poverty alleviation.

b. Stabilization and strengthening of institutions. 

c. Improvement in education from early childhood to tertiary education.

d. Improvement in infra-structure particularly water and energy.

“This endeavor was based on the ever increasing appreciation that the social change and the improvement in the quality of life of the various communities around the world is driven by capacities of civil society. Increasingly the role of the governments is expected to be an enabler for the civil society to grow positively. Fortunately in many of the countries where the Jamat is living public and private sectors recognize the need and benefit to integrate the civil society and it is within that context since the last ten years the AKDN has expanded its activities.”

“An important facet of modern development thinking is that societies can best strengthen themselves by mobilizing their own dynamic forces rather than relying on external support and direction.”

Each jubilee marked strategic phases in the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) mission, reflecting evolving priorities from grassroots development to global pluralism and sustainability.