Our year in pictures 2025

January

In northern Pakistan’s picturesque Yasin Valley, girls play ice hockey between the mountains. Hailing from nine different districts across Gilgit-Baltistan, 45 girls took part in training led by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) to learn how to play the sport. Together, they have built their teamwork skills and gained confidence to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated activities.

In the long-term, AKRSP is collaborating with the government and local organisations to showcase the region’s unique capacity to host winter sports events like this ice hockey match, as a pathway to tourism development.

February

In GBAO, women are harnessing the region’s rich tradition of cashmere production to drive economic growth. Working at Pamir Cashmere, these women are at the forefront of production, supporting their families and contributing to sustainable development in their communities. As of February this year, 9 of the 17 permanent jobs at the facility were held by women, with plans to expand women’s employment in the future.

In partnership with PATRIP and IFAD.

March

This woman has recently joined a women’s self-help group (SHG), established by AKF in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India. The all-female SHGs have received financial support from the Ministry to begin saving and rotating the money within the group and investing in local development. AKF is providing technical assistance and supporting the women as they discuss changes they’d like to make in their village. This woman’s group is working together to have solar-powered streetlights installed in their village.

April

Mahamud Omar inspects a mangrove nursery before planting the next batch of seedlings. In Bagamoyo, on the coast of Tanzania, AKF is working with local communities to restore mangroves degraded by deforestation. Frequently logged for construction wood and charcoal production by people with few alternative sources of income, the loss of mangroves has had a devastating impact on biodiversity and weakened the natural defences that protect coastal communities from storms.

With more than half of all mangrove ecosystems at risk of collapse by 2050, efforts like this are essential. This programme is one of many contributing to AKF’s Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative.

May

Three young girls enjoy a moment of laughter at the Arty Narty Festival, where Sudanese and Egyptian children took part in creative workshops, like fashion design, clay, modelling and acting. The event welcomed children from all backgrounds, providing a platform for creativity and collaboration. Since April 2023, Egypt has welcomed over 748,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, the majority of whom are women and children fleeing the conflict in Sudan. This festival is part of efforts by the Om Habibeh Foundation (OHF) to provide education for Sudanese children in Aswan, funded by UNICEF. The programme supports the integration and educational development of these children, enabling them to build skills and access opportunities to thrive in their new communities.

In Egypt, AKF works alongside OHF to lead a range of integrated, innovative and gender sensitive programmes in Aswan governorate.

June

Members of the AKF team assess the landscape during a Hazard, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment (HVRA), which took place across four locations in Salamieh. Conducted as part of AKF’s emergency management efforts, this comprehensive assessment includes offsite and onsite evaluations, followed by validation and analysis. The goal is to enhance disaster preparedness by identifying risks that may impact the local population.

The resulting hazard maps and HVRA reports guide future mitigation efforts, helping safeguard over 2,000 people in these communities.

July

In the early morning light, a Malagasy fisherman expertly navigates his pirogue (handmade dugout canoe) through mangrove forests in the Mozambique Channel. This moment was captured en route to the Barren Isles, where AKF is working with Blue Ventures to support small-scale fishers to develop new livelihoods that bolster community-led marine conservation efforts.

Supported by the Blue Action Fund.

August

In Ak-Bulung village, solar panels power water pumps that bring irrigation to farmland previously out of reach. With many fields lying above water sources, diesel pumps are costly, both financially and for the environment. Additionally, croplands are typically far from electricity infrastructure, making solar-powered pump stations an especially practical solution.

AKF’s solar-powered pump stations provide a clean, affordable, and climate-friendly solution – turning dry land into productive farms and boosting food security for rural communities.

September

A dairy farmer and one of his four cows gaze through a barn door. As a smallholder farmer in rural Afghanistan, his livelihood is fragile; if even one cow falls sick, a quarter of his income could be at risk. Through a nearby Livestock Development Centre – initially established by AKF and now run privately by local veterinarians – he has accessed artificial insemination services to improve the health and productivity of his cows.

By mixing indigenous cow breeds (producing around 4-5 litres of milk per day) with pure Friesian cows (producing up to 30 litres), he can produce more milk using the same amount of feed. In turn, the farmer welcomes a higher income per cow, improved nutrition, and a reduced carbon footprint.

October

The newly built Ruji Arkari Jeepable Bridge connects the remote Arkari Valley with Lower Chitral in the rugged Hindukush mountain range. For years, residents of the valley relied on a broken bridge. The old structure, unable support heavy loads, weakened over time and caused frequent accidents. Meanwhile, pedestrians risked their lives crossing an unstable footbridge that swayed in the wind.

Constructed by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Pakistan, the new bridge has transformed life for nearly 10,000 people across fifteen villages. It provides a safe and reliable connection to Lower Chitral’s markets, schools, and healthcare services, and reduces travel distances by two kilometres.

November

In rural Kenya, a woman uses her new cookstove to prepare a meal for her family. Before, like most families in her community, she used a three-stone fire – literally three stones holding up a pot. This method is easy to use but fuel-hungry, burning through wood quickly and filling homes with smoke, causing respiratory issues and deforestation. AKF is supporting rural communities to switch to ‘improved cookstoves’, seen here, which use half the wood and produce nearly no smoke.

First, AKF trains young people to construct and install the improved cookstoves, who then go household to household marketing the benefits they bring. If they get a sale, the household pays for the cost of the materials and the labour – creating an income stream for the salesperson.

December

Pupils at Hasan Bin Thabt School in Homs celebrate the opening of their newly renovated school building. The school is one of 17 learning spaces being rejuvenated by AKF in partnership with the Al-Inshaat association. Reaching more than 5,000 children and young people, this initiative will provide them with safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments where they can access quality education whether they are in or out of school.

Supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC).

Bonus photo

In Gazi Bay, a man navigates through the area’s mangrove forest canals. Here, AKF has partnered with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to restore 226 hectares of degraded mangrove forests. By fostering sustainable alternative livelihoods in collaboration with local communities, this initiative will support the rehabilitation of the ecosystem, whilst also strengthening economic stability for residents across the Bay.

This initiative is one of many contributing to AKF’s Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative.