The month in pictures: February

AKF’s operations team in Syria carry out routine maintenance on the rooftop solar panels at the AKF office building in Salamieh. The solar energy system here consists of 96 solar panels, each with the capacity of 250W. In a country where energy supplies are extremely limited, this sustainable system operates the building’s lighting, charging points, server room, telephone exchange, and elevator.

Despite the snow-cover on these mountains, Afghanistan is in the midst of a three-year drought. Without snowmelt, rivers will remain low and fields dry. In rural areas, some communities have only planted 20% of their land, worried that precious seeds would be wasted if the rains don’t come; a gamble that has profound consequences for the people of Afghanistan, where 80% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

In Mombasa, Kenya, AKF is working with a youth-led community-based organisation – Big Ship – on the conservation of mangroves which have faced the twin challenges of climate change and deforestation. AKF and Big Ship are training ‘green champions’ to work with local communities on the replanting of the degraded mangroves both to protect land but also to create new livelihood opportunities such as beekeeping and honey production which occurs within the mangroves.

An aerial view of Mombasa’s mangroves, with the distant silhouette of the city’s industrial skyline on the horizon. In 2022, AKF worked with communities to plant and protect more than 2.5 million mangrove trees in Kenya alone, conserving these crucial marine ecosystems in harmony with the coastal livelihoods of Kenyans who depend on the ocean for their income.

A new beekeeping initiative under AKF’s holistic rural development programme in India aims to support farmer livelihoods and crop yields within a two to three kilometre radius. Community members actively participate in learning about bee care, harvesting, feeding, and weather management. So far, 85 kg of honey have been produced from 40 hives, benefiting farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity nearby.

Ahtamov Subhonqul joined his community in planting 533 Paulownia (foxglove) trees in Panjakent city. The trees have seen impressive growth, reaching heights of more than 1.5 metres. With the support of the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme and the State Forest Enterprise of Panjakent city, AKF is implementing environmental stewardship initiatives so that people like Subhonqul can develop their experience in these skills.

During the opening of a park in Salamieh, local children performed to a crowd playing traditional musical instruments. The park was designed for people living with disabilities, through a project co-led by AKF and the Hope Volunteer Team. It is the first of its kind in the area, providing a safe and comfortable place for disabled people to enjoy. The young performers showcased their talents on the oud, a prominent instrument in Eastern musical traditions, and on the darbuka, a small drum commonly used in popular and traditional Arab music.

During the Global Learning Workshop hosted by AKF and Global Affairs Canada, participants discussed how to empower women leaders through transformative policy shifts. The focus was on promoting women in leadership through ‘Femtorship’, which emphasises inclusivity, mutual sharing, and deep reflection. The participants defined Femtorship in their own words, as seen in this photo. The workshop included 130 participants from civil society organisations, universities, and research institutions across 14 countries in Africa and Asia, serving as a platform for learning, sharing evidence, and fostering a global community of best practices and networking.

Egamova Nodira is a farmer from Chimqala Village. Here, she is tending to a plum plant, using agricultural techniques she learned during practical workshops with support from AKF’s rural development programme in Tajikistan. The programme implements sustainable and equitable farming practices, integrated management of natural resources, improves nutrition, and provides sustainable and equitable access to water and sanitation in Tajikistan’s remote and rural villages.