The month in pictures: February

Golden morning light kisses the mountains and hills surrounding Ak-Moyun village on the outskirts of Naryn. In and around the city, AKF is supporting several initiatives to improve quality of life, from women’s healthcare and men’s family wellbeing to community health and antenatal support.

A farmer in coastal Gujarat applies an organic bio-spray to his crops, part of a shift towards regenerative farming practices that restore soil health and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers.

In a region increasingly affected by cyclones, water scarcity and saltwater intrusion, coastal communities are adapting to the growing impacts of climate change. By rebuilding soil fertility and protecting fragile ecosystems, farmers are working to safeguard their land, livelihoods and long-term food security – stories captured during filming with AKF and Open Planet Studios.

Two young children play with colourful toys at a community-based early learning centre in Salamieh, Syria. In areas where years of conflict and economic hardship have strained public services, centres like this provide safe, nurturing spaces for young children to learn and grow.

While children aged 0-3 take part in early childhood development activities designed to build their cognitive and social skills through play, mothers and caregivers receive guidance on age-appropriate care and stimulation. By strengthening caregivers’ knowledge and confidence, the initiative supports healthy early development and fosters positive parent–child interaction at a critical stage in a child’s life.

On 2nd February, over 200 representatives from local community groups participated in a solidarity march during the launch of the Tuinuke Pamoja initiative in Tanzania’s Dodoma region. The initiative is community-driven and gender-responsive, centring civil society groups in improving gender equality, women’s leadership and social inclusion.

Carrying placards bearing their group names and advocacy messages, including “Together we move forward for gender equality and women’s empowerment”, the march reflected strong community mobilisation, unity and a shared commitment to advancing pluralism and inclusion at the community level.

Tuinuke Pamoja is supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania.

Fresh green vegetables flourish inside a passive solar greenhouse in northern Pakistan as winter snow blankets the valley outside. In the high-altitude regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, where temperatures fall well below freezing and roads, fields and irrigation channels are often blocked for months, families face limited access to fresh food and rising household costs.

Passive solar greenhouses capture heat from the sun during the day and retain warmth overnight, enabling farmers to grow vegetables throughout winter. Supported by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), more than 500 farmers across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral are now using this climate-smart technology, strengthening household food security, improving nutrition and generating additional income in communities where conventional farming is not possible.

A business owner (right) and her colleague hold trays of freshly made sweet pastries at their workshop in Barri Sharqi village. In a context of prolonged economic hardship and limited job opportunities in Syria, small food businesses like this provide a vital source of income for families and their wider community.

With support from AKF, the entrepreneur received business training, mentorship and financial support to expand her sweets manufacturing enterprise. This enabled her to purchase equipment, raw materials and a solar energy system, helping to increase productivity while lowering energy costs. She is one of 519 entrepreneurs supported through this particular initiative, which helps small business owners strengthen their livelihoods, create jobs and build more sustainable futures.

A newly reconstructed irrigation channel runs through Boghev village in Suchon Jamoat, Shugnan district, where steep slopes and high-altitude conditions make infrastructure work both complex and risky. Situated 2,400 metres above sea level, the area is prone to landslides and rockfalls, posing ongoing challenges for local farmers.

In 2025, a 2-kilometre water pipeline was rebuilt, including a reinforced metal section installed along the most hazardous stretch. The improved system now delivers reliable irrigation water to 13 hectares of agricultural land, strengthening food security and supporting the local economy in this remote mountainous region.