AKDN -E-mail Bulletin

E-mail Bulletin December 2007

"One of the prime qualities which recommends Mozambique as a model is your reliance on professional expertise rather than ideological caveats. In that spirit, you have built a broad consensus among many stakeholders – public and private, from civil society, and from the international community. In pursuing your great goals, you have been inclusive, rather than exclusive. In an era when frustration often breeds cynicism concerning the possibility of progress, Mozambique can provide inspiration and encouragement to other post-conflict societies." --His Highness the Aga Khan speaking at a State Banquet in his honour, Maputo, Mozambique, 20 November 2007

Aga Khan Visits Mozambique, Reviews AKDN Development Projects in Cabo Delgado Province

On 23 November, His Highness the Aga Khan visited development projects of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in remote areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado – the poorest province in the country. Since 2001, AKDN agencies have been working in the province on an integrated development programme that includes the raising of agricultural yields through assistance to farmers, microfinance, early childhood development, school improvement and health care initiatives. For more information, including a slide show and a video, please see the Mozambique page.

Madagascar Visit Highlights Successful Rice Production Programmes

During his recent visit to Madagascar, His Highness the Aga Khan discussed AKDN's expanding development activities in the country. These activities have been underway since 2005, when the Aga Khan Foundation launched an integrated rural development project in the Sofia region with the objective of increasing rice yields. The participative rice farming programme offered training on alternative rice cultivation practices. By 2006, yields in experimental plots in the Sofia region more than doubled. Some farmers recorded even higher yields. For more information about the Aga Khan's visit to Madagascar and the Foundation's rice production programme, please visit
the Madagascar page.

Aga Khan Delivers Keynote Address at Berlin Conference on "Central Asia and Europe: A New Economic Partnership for the 21st Century"

His Highness the Aga Khan delivered the keynote address at “Central Asia and Europe: A New Economic Partnership for the 21st Century”, a conference hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The conference was the first major international gathering to review prospects for creating partnerships in the region. For more information and speeches by His Highness the Aga Khan and speech by German Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, please see the Berlin page.

Cairo Landmarks Restored by Aga Khan Trust for Culture

With the completion of the restoration of the fourteenth century Umm al Sultan Shabaan mosque and the Khayrebek complex (which encompasses a 13th century palace, a mosque and an Ottoman house), two major steps in the revitalisation of Cairo’s Historic City were taken in October 2007. But the two buildings are only part of a much larger project which is changing the face of Darb al-Ahmar, a neighborhood rich in cultural heritage but poor in economic terms. The restoration projects in the district are intended to use the revitalisation of cultural assets as a catalyst to bring about positive social and economic change. For more information, including the text of His Highness the Aga Khan's speech, please see the press release.

BBC Series on Aga Khan Award for Architecture Voted One of the Best Documentaries of the Year

Building for Islam, the BBC World series on the 2007 Aga Khan Award recipients, was nominated as one of the top BBC documentaries of 2007. The other nominees can be seen here:

http://www.edigitalresearch.com/clients/bbcworld/by07/survey.php

Voting closed on 2 December 2007. The top six programmes will be re-broadcast in a special Best of the Year Documentary programme on 29/30 December 2007 and 5/6 January 2008 on BBC World. Please consult local listings for times in your area.

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