(Issued Jointly by The Patriarchate of Lisbon and Aga Khan Foundation Portugal)
His Eminence Dom José Policarpo, the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, and Prince Amyn Aga Khan,
Director of Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), sign a Partnership Agreement to support AKF Portugal’s innovative Urban Community Support Programme, K’CIDADE. The agreement was signed in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan. Dr. Shafik Sachedina, Director, Diplomatic Affairs, looks on.
The Patriarchate of Lisbon and Aga Khan Foundation Portugal today signed a Partnership Agreement that provides the framework for cooperation in support of an innovative urban community support programme to address problems of social exclusion and poverty alleviation. The Agreement was signed in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan, by His Eminence Dom José Policarpo, the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, and Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness, and Director of Aga Khan Foundation.
The Agreement reflects the shared commitment of the Patriarchate and Aga Khan Foundation, Portugal, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), to an improvement in the quality of life of marginalized and disadvantaged populations. It is established under the framework of the Urban Community Support Programme (UCSP), an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation Portugal.
The UCSP aims to help improve the quality of life of marginalised groups (including cultural and ethnic minorities) in urban contexts by enhancing the capacity of communities to assess and address needs and to manage their own social and economic development efforts. The programme promotes sustainable local development initiatives based on community empowerment and participation, ensuring the promotion of choice, diversity and pluralism.
The Agreement follows eight years of dialogue and co-operation between institutions of the Catholic Church and agencies of the AKDN in Portugal and Mozambique. Cooperation has included the provision of material resources and technical assistance for higher education in Mozambique and a programme to create opportunities for professional and educational interchange in Portugal.