Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, today announced at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan a multiyear commitment of US$75 million by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to help re-build Afghanistan.
The recovery, reconstruction and long-term development programme will ?span many regions of the country and range in scope from agriculture-based rural development, food and seed security, rehabilitation of capital infrastructure, to the provision and upgrading of health and education services from the primary to the tertiary levels, institution and capacity building, especially at the community-level, and the restoration of cultural heritage for social inclusion.?

?Since the start of our institutional work in Afghanistan seven years ago,? said the Aga Khan in a statement delivered to the Afghan Interim Administration, the organisers of the Donor Conference on Afghanistan and the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Japan, ?our primary interest has been, and remains, to enable the people of Afghanistan to decide their future, to rebuild their nation, relieved of the continuing risk of starvation, and economic and social collapse.?

Mr. Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration, responded to the announcement saying that ?coming as it does from someone whose institutions have valuable proven experience and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of all in this region, this pledge has encouraged us greatly. We hope others will come forward and join the Aga Khan Development Network in helping us build capacity for the future.?

Mr. Mark Malloch-Brown, as chairman of the UN Development Group, stated that ?this is an extraordinary commitment by a leader who understands this region intimately and speaks to the solidarity and hopes that we all have for Afghanistan. The UN System is proud to be planning to work as partners with the Aga Khan Development Network.?

In welcoming this contribution, Mr. James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank said that he has ?long admired the humanity and the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan. This gift confirms not only my opinion but clearly places him and the Aga Khan Development Network at the forefront of the reconstruction efforts.?

Sir Christopher Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations remarked ?I very much welcome this important commitment by His Highness. We have great appreciation for the Aga Khan Development Network?s engagement in many parts of the world. We have over the years developed a very close relationship with the AKDN. We are actually co-financing a substantial share of AKDN?s activities. AKDN?s profound knowledge of the region and its professionalism make it a privileged partner for us in Afghanistan and we will certainly explore ways of further strengthening our excellent co-operation.?

The Aga Khan?s statement, delivered on his behalf by Mr. Aly Mawji, AKDN Country Co-ordinator for Afghanistan highlighted three additional dimensions of the challenge: