The month in pictures: September

Umar Sarwan (in blue) walks across his crab-fattening pond, which is helping him build a new source of income in the face of climate change. As changing weather patterns and pressure on coastal resources make fishing increasingly uncertain, Umar has adopted soft-shell crab farming as an alternative livelihood.

With support from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) through the Sindh Coastal Resilience Integrated Programme (SCRIP), fishers are rearing crabs in controlled ponds and selling them in Karachi’s markets, where soft-shell crabs can fetch premium prices. To date, SCRIP has established five crab-fattening ponds and trained 105 fishers in crab farming, helping coastal communities to diversify their livelihoods while remaining connected to the coastal economy.

SCRIP is implemented by AKRSP, an affiliate of AKF, with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan and forms part of AKF’s wider coastal restoration and livelihoods initiative, ReGeneration.

Our Potential, Our Purpose, a traveling exhibition by AKF Canada, showcases inspiring stories of people around the world taking on big challenges like inequality, education access and climate change to build stronger communities. The exhibition has been travelling across Canada since last year and will continue to tour until 2027.

Children in traditional Kyrgyz dress play in the grounds of their newly expanded kindergarten centre. The new building, designed to accommodate two additional kindergarten groups and equipped with indoor sanitary facilities, will help increase access to preschool education while providing a more comfortable learning environment for young children.

The extension was constructed by the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP), an initiative of AKF, in partnership with local government. Similar facilities have also been opened in two other villages in the district, helping more children access quality early childhood education close to home.

The facilities were made possible with support from the PATRIP Foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany and KfW Development Bank.

A staff member monitors the operation of the newly refurbished pumping station at Al-Qantara Water Station in Salamieh. The upgraded facility, pictured from above, forms part of efforts to strengthen water infrastructure and ensure a more reliable water supply for residents across Salamieh city.

The project included the completion of civil, mechanical, electrical, control and monitoring works required to bring the new pumping station into operation. Implemented through AKF’s Built Environment programme in partnership with the Hama Water Authority and local communities, the investment will help improve the delivery of essential water services while strengthening the resilience of local infrastructure.

A woman weighs a bag of livestock feed as part of a ration-balancing initiative helping farmers improve animal nutrition through the optimal use of locally available resources. Working closely with livestock keepers, pashu sakhis (para-vets) provide tailored feeding advice and support the adoption of improved animal husbandry practices. Pashu sakhis are trained by AKF in animal nutrition, ethno-veterinary practices and livestock management.

Their work is strengthened through the Bharat Pashudhan App, pictured here, which enables the collection and analysis of data to support evidence-based advice for livestock keepers. By combining digital tools with community-based support, these efforts are improving livestock productivity and helping build more resilient rural livelihoods.

“Interacting with the communities we partner with is the most inspiring part of my work. Community discussions also reveal what we need to modify, what we need to prioritise and help us strengthen our implementation approaches. We hear directly from communities on what is working well and what needs to change, which serves to strengthen our partnership and our joint vision of building a future where we all thrive together.” – Tinni Sawhney, CEO of AKF in India

A group of AKF staff take part in a motorcycle safety training session in Pemba. Over two days of practical and classroom-based learning, field teams strengthened their driving skills, helping them travel more safely as they work with communities across remote areas of Mozambique.

Motorcycles are often essential for reaching the locations where AKF programmes are delivered. By building practical skills, increasing awareness of road risks and promoting safe behaviour, the training is helping to reduce risk and foster a stronger culture of safety across programme operations.

The training was delivered by Concord Safety as part of AKF Mozambique’s ongoing investment in staff wellbeing and professional development.

Sarah James (left) and César Moreira (right) hold the Silver Award for Educational Excellence at the 2026 Global Good Awards in London. Presented in recognition of the Schools2030 Human-Centred Design Toolkit, the award celebrates five years of collaboration by teams across the Schools2030 network to create practical resources that help educators design solutions to challenges in their own classrooms.

The Global Good Awards recognise organisations delivering measurable social and environmental impact. Through Schools2030’s partnership with The Learning Hub, the toolkit and its growing collection of resources are freely available to educators worldwide, supporting teacher-led innovation and improved learning outcomes for students.

Schools2030 is AKF’s flagship education initiative driving teacher-led education reform across 10 countries worldwide.

Staff inspect the newly equipped agricultural and veterinary laboratory, where rooftop solar panels will help provide a reliable source of power for essential diagnostic services. The facility supports livestock breeders, poultry farmers and agricultural producers across Salamieh district and surrounding villages.

As well as a solar power system, the laboratory has been equipped with essential veterinary diagnostic equipment and a portable soil analysis kit for on-site fertility assessments. This investment will help veterinary technicians diagnose diseases more accurately, identify pathogens and determine appropriate treatments, reducing costs and improving response times for farmers.

This work is part of AKF’s Road to Resilience (R2R) programme, which also trains government technical staff to strengthen the long-term sustainability of agricultural and veterinary services in Syria.

Snow-capped mountains rise above the remote highlands of GBAO in Tajikistan, where communities live and work at more than 3,000 metres above sea level. In Shoshbovad village, one of the most isolated areas of GBAO, AKF has supported the construction of a kashar (animal shed) and an overnight shelter for shepherds, providing a safe space for livestock and those who care for them.

Used by 26 of the village’s 94 households, the facility now shelters around 800 animals. By protecting livestock from predators and harsh weather, it helps livestock keepers safeguard a vital source of income while reducing the time and effort required for herding. The investment is supporting healthier animals, more stable production of milk, meat and wool, and stronger livelihoods for rural mountain communities.

Dr. Matt Reed presents at AKF’s booth during La Fabrique de la Diplomatie. The public event, organised by France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, brings together diplomats, researchers, civil society organisations, businesses and citizens to discuss the major global challenges shaping the 21st century.

Throughout the event, visitors explored AKF’s work across a range of countries and thematic areas, as well as the AKF Learning Hub, a free learning platform for development practitioners and civil society organisations. Through conversations and interactive experiences, AKF shared how community-led solutions are helping build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

During the forum, Dr. Matt Reed, AKF’s Global Director of Institutional Partnerships, joined leaders from diplomacy, science and civil society for a discussion on the One Health approach, exploring how collaboration across human, animal and environmental health can strengthen public policy and international cooperation.

Community members sit together during a discussion session to help shape Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) messages on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Bringing together community members and key stakeholders, the sessions explored what makes health messages clear, relevant and actionable for different audiences.

Through focus group discussions and interviews, participants shared insights on issues including stigma, gender norms, trusted messengers and the most effective communication channels. Their feedback will help refine the messages and inform an SBCC strategy, ensuring future communications are shaped by the experiences and perspectives of the communities they aim to serve.

The sessions form part of STRIDES, an AKF programme supported by Global Affairs Canada. It is working in Kenya and Mozambique to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls through stronger, more resilient health systems.