AKDN / AKF INITIATIVES WORLDWIDE

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AKF partners with Portugal to advance coastal resilience in Kenya


The agreement was signed by Ambassador designate of Portugal to Kenya, Paulo Neves Pocinho, and Susan Otieno, CEO of AKF Kenya.
AKF / Christopher Wilton Steer

Nairobi, Kenya, 28 April 2026 – The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has signed a partnership agreement with the Camões Institute – the Portuguese Cooperation Agency – to support coastal ecosystem restoration and community-led development in Kenya.

The agreement was signed on 16 April during a visit to Kenya by His Excellency Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, from 14 to 16 April 2026. The visit underscores the deepening engagement between Portugal, Kenya and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development, climate resilience and inclusive economic growth.

The Aga Khan University hosted Minister Rangel and Ambassador-designate of Portugal to Kenya, Paulo Pocinho, and other members of the delegation, as well as Comendador Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, at its Nairobi campus, where the signing took place.

The agreement was signed by Susan Otieno, Chief Executive Officer of AKF Kenya, and Ambassador designate of Portugal to Kenya, Paulo Pocinho, marking an important step in strengthening collaboration between Portugal and AKDN.


The agreement was signed by Ambassador designate of Portugal to Kenya, Paulo Neves Pocinho, and Susan Otieno, CEO of AKF Kenya.

AKF / Christopher Wilton Steer

The partnership will support the Gazi Bay Coastal Restoration and Eco-Tourism Initiative (G-CORE) in Kwale County, Kenya. This initiative forms part of AKF’s broader Indian Ocean ReGeneration Initiative and focuses on restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems while strengthening community livelihoods through sustainable eco-tourism.

Gazi Bay, a critical coastal ecosystem, has experienced significant degradation due to deforestation, altered hydrology and coastal erosion, compounded by climate-related pressures such as rising sea levels and storms. These challenges have adversely affected both biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities.


Gazi Bay is located in southern Kenya’s Kwale County.

AKF

Through G-CORE, AKF Kenya and its partners are implementing a community-led approach that combines ecological restoration with economic opportunity.

Activities include planting approximately 65,000 mangrove seedlings across six hectares, as part of AKF’s broader effort to restore 226 hectares of mangrove forest in Gazi Bay in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, alongside training community members in conservation practices, upgrading eco-tourism infrastructure such as the Gazi Boardwalk and strengthening local enterprises, with a particular focus on women and youth.


Community-led mangrove monitoring.

AKF / Christopher Wilton Steer


Young mangroves after planting.

AKF / Christopher Wilton Steer

Portugal’s contribution through the Camões Institute will partially fund the initiative, aligning with shared priorities on climate adaptation, marine conservation and the development of Kenya’s blue economy.

“The Aga Khan Development Network remains committed to working with partners across sectors to advance climate resilience, environmental stewardship and inclusive development across the regions it serves,” said Amin Mawji, AKDN Diplomatic Representative in East Africa.

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Our thanks to the Government of Portugal and the Camões Institute for their partnership.



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28 April 2026: AKDN and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates sign an MoU in Damascus to expand AKDN’s work and investment in Syria, deepening cooperation across health, education, culture and economic development.

Damascus, Syria, 30 April 2026 – The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates at the Syrian Arab Republic have signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding to expand AKDN’s work and investment in Syria, deepening cooperation across health, education, culture and economic development. The agreement formalises a commitment by His Highness the Aga Khan to invest at least €100 million in Syria over 2026 and 2027 in support of the country's recovery and sustainable development.

The memorandum was signed in Damascus by Ghitfan Ajjoub, AKDN Resident Representative in Syria, and Qutaiba Kadish, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry. It builds on the 2002 Framework Agreement for Development Cooperation and expands the scope of the partnership to include key government entities such as the Ministries of Health, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Culture and Emergency Management, as well as local governorates.

"This renewed commitment reflects our longstanding dedication to improving the quality of life for Syrian citizens," said Mr Ajjoub, adding that "by aligning our efforts with the Syrian Government's national priorities, we aim to deliver tangible results that foster economic opportunity, social cohesion and cultural vitality across the country."

About AKDN

The Aga Khan Development Network is a group of agencies, institutions and organisations whose mandate spans the creation, delivery and financing of development projects. It works to improve the quality of life of those who live in the poorest parts of the world, particularly in Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.


In Syria, AKDN has been active for over 25 years. Its work in the country spans humanitarian assistance, health care, water and sanitation, microfinance, educational support, agricultural development, small business strengthening, civil society support and cultural restoration.

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