Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan

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Today is 21st Birthday of Prince Aly Muhammad. Happy Birthday!

Born 7th March 2000

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https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/wha ... n-portugal

Interfaith partnership restores historic chapel in Portugal

Portugal · 7 September 2025

PHOTOS BELOW ARTICLE. SCROLL PLEASE.

Lisbon, Portugal, 7 September 2025 – A historic chapel in northern Portugal has reopened after being destroyed in the devastating wildfires that swept through Gondomar, just east of Porto, in September 2024. The restoration was made possible thanks to a unique collaboration involving local authorities, the Catholic Church and the Ismaili Imamat.

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Aflição in Branzelo was originally built in 1884 and has long served as a place of worship and community life. It has now been fully rebuilt and returned to the community. The work was carried out as a joint effort of the Gondomar City Council, the Parish Council of Melres e Medas, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), with support from the Portuguese Government and senior figures of the Catholic Church. The chapel is privately owned by a local family that has granted its use to the community.

“The destruction of the chapel was a deeply felt loss, a painful blow that left a void in our lives and in the lives of the people of Branzelo,” said Elvira Duarte, whose family has cared for the chapel since 1952. Read Elvira Duarte’s speech.

AKTC, the cultural agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, provided specialist technical expertise, while both AKTC and the Ismaili Imamat contributed direct funding. The restoration followed heritage conservation principles and incorporated modern safety and accessibility features, using traditional materials and artisanal techniques to preserve the chapel’s historical character.

“This work was not only a response to a calamity. It was an act of preservation, a gesture balancing technical rigour, respect for authenticity and symbolic value,” said Rui Correia, the architect who oversaw the project. Read Rui Correia’s speech.

The reopening took place during the annual festival in honour of Our Lady of Affliction, the chapel’s namesake and an important expression of faith and tradition for the people of Branzelo and the wider region. Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, attended the ceremony alongside the Mayor of Gondomar, representatives of the Portuguese Government, senior figures of the Catholic Church and other dignitaries. During the ceremony, the Aga Khan Foundation and Gondomar municipality signed a protocol to advance local social and community initiatives.

“The restoration is not only of great importance to the local community and those who worship here, but also symbolises the solidarity between the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church, and our respective institutions,” said Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan. “It is also a testament to the strength of the bond between the Ismaili Imamat and the Portuguese Republic – a bond anchored in the shared values of respect for human dignity, pluralism and a commitment to bring hope and opportunity to all peoples, regardless of faith or origin.”

This restoration is part of AKTC’s broader cultural development work worldwide, demonstrating how revitalising heritage can strengthen communities and preserve cultural identity.

For more information, please contact:
Farzana Carmali
farzana.carmali@cism.com.pt

Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan attended the reopening ceremony with community, government and Church representatives. / AKDN / José Nero


The chapel reopened during the annual festival in honour of Our Lady of Affliction, an important tradition for the Branzelo community. / AKDN / José Nero


The restoration incorporated modern safety and accessibility features while using traditional materials and artisanal techniques to preserve the chapel’s character. AKDN / José Nero


During the ceremony, the Aga Khan Foundation and Gondomar municipality signed a protocol to advance local social and community initiatives. / AKDN / José Nero


“The restoration is not only of great importance to the local community and those who worship here, but also symbolises the solidarity between the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church,” said Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan. / AKDN / José Nero

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2025, November 18:Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan attended Al Burda Award, Abu Dhabi, UAE





PREVIOUSLY 27 Jun, 2025:
20 years of Al Burda: UAE showcases Islamic art at Canada’s Aga Khan Museum. UAE's Al Burda Award marks its 20th anniversary with a major exhibition at Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum, showcasing over 60 contemporary Islamic artworks and cultural dialogue.

PREVIOUSLY 19 Dec, 2024:
UAE celebrates Islamic art at 18th Al Burda Award with Prince Rahim Aga Khan
Al-Noor: A celebration of cultural pluralism in Abu Dhabi.
https://www.travelsdubai.com/19-Dec-202 ... m-aga-khan

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Prince Aly Muhammad attends 19th Al Burda Award


H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture and Prince Aly Muhammad during the Al Burda Awards Ceremony.Photo: UAE Government

Prince Aly Muhammad attended the 19th Al Burda Award ceremony on 18 November 2025 at Louvre Abu Dhabi, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Culture under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

This year’s edition centred on the theme “Social Cohesion & Unity,” aligned with the UAE’s 2025 Year of the Community. Drawing inspiration from Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13) - “O mankind, indeed We have created you … peoples and tribes that you may know one another … the most noble of you … is the most righteous of you”. The theme underscored that diversity is not a source of division but an opportunity for mutual understanding, respect, and unity.

The evening unfolded with the announcement of the award winners in Arabic calligraphy, poetry, and ornamentation, followed by captivating Islamic musical performances that blended classical traditions with contemporary expression. The ceremony also provided moments of meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange, bringing together artists, poets, and calligraphers from around the world.

The event highlighted and further emphasised the growing partnership between the UAE Ministry of Culture and the Aga Khan Museum. Under their Memorandum of Understanding, three Emirati museum professionals curated an exhibition drawn from more than 300 works in the Al Burda Collection — first unveiled at Louvre Abu Dhabi and now showcased at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

Minister Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi acknowledged Prince Aly Muhammad’s presence, underscoring the strengthened collaboration between the Ismaili Imamat and the UAE.

https://the.ismaili/pt/en/news/prince-a ... urda-award

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Happy 26th Birthday to Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan

March 7, 2000 – A Special Day in History

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AS RECEIVED:

2026, March 09: Prince Aly Muhammad was at the commonwealth event today in London
Found his seating position, proud moment He was sitted on front row next to King of Monaco and The British Prime Minister.

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*IMPORTANT UPDATE – FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY - NEW AGA HALL JAMATKHANA*

*Wed, 15 April 2026*
- Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan to grace the historic occasion
- Entry to foundation site by *Invitation only*
- LIVE streaming from 11 AM *ONLY* at Aga Hall Jamatkhana.
- Additional seating in Basement, (Mumbai) Diamond Jubilee High School, Mazgaon for viewing
- Lunch for Jamat at the school basement
- Vehicle-free zone in the JK compound on that day
- NO entry / No parking for 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers
- Please use carpooling, ride-sharing, or cabs

*Fri, 17 April 2026*
After Dua Mehmani Kriyas, Shukrana Night
- Mamera
- Performances
- Dandiya Raas
- Dinner for the Jamat.
Lots of Mubarakis!!!
----------------
Also have a look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD_5YBjSdQE
and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi_VO8Rk5vE

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Prince Aly Muhammad at Hasanabad

https://www.facebook.com/10006853026117 ... 820901555/

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https://www.facebook.com/10006853026117 ... 267293891/

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Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan visits Hasnabad JK in Mumbai

Video: https://www.reddit.com/r/ismailis/comme ... snabad_jk/

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2026, April 15: Prince Aly Mohmmad met Mukhi Saheb and Kamadia Saheb at Hasnabad Jamatkhana. Hassanabad is resting place of first Aga Khan in Mumbai. Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan visited the moseleum of his great great great grand father Aga Hassanali Shah. Considering the sanctity of the place, Prince Aly Muhammad removed his shoes before climbing the stairs to the Mosoleum showing his respect.

Prince Aly Muhammad's father was Shah Karim Aga Khan IV, his grandfather was Prince Aly Khan, his great grand father was Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III. his great great grandfather was Aga Ali Shah (Aga Khan II) and his great great great grandfather was Imam Hassanali Shah Aga Khan the First.

VIDEO 1: HTTPS://ismaili.net/timeline/2026/2026-04-16-mumbai.mp4

VIDEO2: HTTPS://ismaili.net/timeline/2026/2026-04-15-aly1.mp4

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Foundation laid for Aga Hall Jamatkhana in Mumbai


Leaders of the Jamat in India welcome Prince Aly Muhammad to the foundation ceremony of the Aga Hall Jamatkhana in Mumbai.
Photo: IPL / The Ismaili


Prince Aly Muhammad participates in the foundation ceremony of the new Aga Hall Jamatkhana in Mumbai.
Photo: IPL / The Ismaili


Prince Aly Muhammad unveils the design of Aga Hall Jamatkhana on 15 April 2026.
Photo: IPL / The Ismaili


Prince Aly Muhammad addresses guests at the foundation ceremony of Aga Hall Jamatkhana in Mumbai.
Photo: IPL / Sameer Nathwani


Prince Aly Muhammad inaugurates a model apartment at the Aga Hall Estate on 15 April 2026.
Photo: IPL / The Ismaili


Prince Aly Muhammad at the foundation ceremony of Aga Hall Jamatkhana in Mumbai.
Photo: IPL / Sameer Nathwani


Prince Aly Muhammad reviews progress on the construction of the residential towers at Aga Hall Estate in Mumbai.
Photo: IPL / Shanaya Lokhandwala


Prince Aly Muhammad and Naguib Kheraj, Chair of the Aga Hall Estate Steering Committee, with members of the Ismaili Council for India.
Photo: IPL / The Ismaili

Prince Aly Muhammad participated in the foundation ceremony for the new Aga Hall Jamatkhana yesterday, marking a historic milestone in the evolving story of the Aga Hall Estate.

Established by Mawlana Hasan Ali Shah in the 1840s, Aga Hall was also a home to Mawlana Ali Shah and Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, and thus an important centre of the Ismaili Imamat in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Since then, it has witnessed Mumbai’s expansion into a thriving international hub, while symbolising the city’s historic roots. In 2018 Mawlana Shah Karim approved plans to redevelop the site to enhance the quality of life of residents and their neighbours.

In his address to guests, Prince Aly Muhammad explained the project’s significance, and his aspirations for its continued progress and contribution to the city.

The new Jamatkhana, he said, will serve “not only as a place of prayer, but also as a place of learning and encounter.”

“In a city like Mumbai, with all the pace and intensity that comes with urban life, spaces of calm matter all the more. I hope this will be a place that is beautiful, welcoming, and open in spirit — strengthening the bonds within our community and with the society around it.”

The structure will be significantly larger than the previously existing Jamatkhana, to cater for an expanded community living at Aga Hall and the surrounding area. Its architecture will feature a combination of solid balusters and translucent jaali screens repeated around the exterior.

“For the community here, the Jamatkhana is the special heart of the Estate,” said Naguib Kheraj, Chair of the Aga Hall Estate Steering Committee. “It is the element which binds the community together,” he added. “A place which helps us remember what gives meaning to life.”

A series of gardens will frame the building and will feature a stepped chahar-bagh, or quadrilateral garden; a maidan, or courtyard square; and a bustan, or orchard. Heritage elements like the 140-year-old Estate gate and fountain are being preserved and reinstalled in the new design.

“It is the continuation of a legacy,” said Asif Porbanderwala, President of the Ismaili Council for India. “One that honours the past, serves the present, and inspires the future.”

Adjacent to the Jamatkhana building will be two residential towers offering 580 high-quality apartments, along with amenities for a healthy lifestyle, and spaces for community gatherings and cultural events. The structure of the first tower is now finished, and the second tower’s frame is close to completion.

After inaugurating a show apartment, Prince Aly Muhammad undertook a tour of the site, going up to the top of one of the towers, surveying a variety of apartments and visiting the communal amenity spaces. The first apartments are expected to be ready for residents to move into from 2027 onwards.

As part of a thoughtfully landscaped setting, green spaces will cover more than half of the site’s total area. The project applies AKDN’s Green Building Guidelines, incorporating energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive design features, while reducing waste and carbon emissions.

A new medical facility will follow in the years ahead, expected to benefit local citizens regardless of background. Overall, the project is one of the largest mixed-use redevelopments in South Mumbai in recent years.

https://the.ismaili/in/en/news/foundati ... -in-mumbai

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Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad meet with French Minister for Overseas Territories as AKF signs a Memorandum of Understanding for the reconstruction of Mayotte


Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad met with French Minister for Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou in Paris, together with representatives of France, AFD, the Ismaili Imamat, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo


Naïma Moutchou, Minister for Overseas Territories, speaks at the signing ceremony, highlighting the “bond of trust that unites the Ismaili Imamat and France” and the shared commitment to Mayotte’s reconstruction.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo


Prince Aly Muhammad addresses guests at the signing ceremony, emphasising that “environmental recovery is not separate from human recovery” and highlighting the role of healthy ecosystems in supporting communities and livelihoods.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo


The signatories of today’s MoU for Mayotte, setting out €8.5 million in initial projects to support lagoon protection, biodiversity restoration and agroecological transition.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo


From left to right: Naïma Moutchou, Minister for Overseas Territories, Prince Aly Muhammad, Prince Hussain and Shamir Samdjee, Official Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to the French Republic.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo


Prince Aly Muhammad and Naïma Moutchou, Minister for Overseas Territories.
Photo: AKDN / Frederic Bukajlo

Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad today met with the French Minister for Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou in Paris. The meeting built on the discussions between Mawlana Hazar Imam and French President Emmanuel Macron on 11 July 2025, that included a joint desire to increase support to the Indian Ocean region, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which impacted Mayotte in December 2024.

Located between Mozambique and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Mayotte is surrounded by a vast coral reef system and a lagoon covering about 1,500 km², making it a major destination for diving, snorkeling, and marine wildlife viewing. Mayotte has also been home to a Jamat, many originating from neighbouring Madagascar, for decades.

Today, on World Oceans Day, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the reconstruction and development of Mayotte, with the French Government and the Agence Française de Développement.

The work in Mayotte is part of a broader AKDN initiative. The work underway in Mayotte forms part of a broader coastal regeneration initiative in the Indian Ocean, led by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in several countries across the region where it has been active for many decades. It will benefit from the experience gained by AKDN in other parts of the region.

Following the memorandum signed last month at the Africa Forward Summit for AFD-AKDN cooperation in Tanzania, today’s MoU sets out initial projects in Mayotte worth €8.5 million. These projects have been selected for their contribution to the regeneration of the lagoon and are funded by AKF as part of the reconstruction and development strategy for Mayotte being implemented by France. AFD has been appointed to coordinate this cooperation.

The principles of Islam teaches us that everything on Earth, from the smallest insect to the tallest tree, has a purpose, and it is our responsibility to be mindful stewards, protecting the environment and its creatures, showing respect for Allah's creations.

During the signing ceremony, Minister Moutchou said, “The expression of solidarity shown by your late father, Aga Khan IV in the days following Cyclone Chido touched us deeply. We were very moved by this gesture, which demonstrates the bonds of trust that unite the Ismaili Imamat and France.”

In his remarks, Prince Aly Muhammad said: “This work builds on many decades of AKDN engagement in coastal regions, where environmental restoration, livelihoods, enterprise development, and community resilience must be understood—and practiced—together. The programme being prepared jointly by our teams focuses on the restoration of coastal zones both on oceans and on lands, and additional preservation work of the Mayotte Marine Natural Park. Our shared conviction is that environmental recovery is not separate from human recovery. Healthy ecosystems protect communities, sustain livelihoods, and create the conditions for long-term resilience.”

https://the.ismaili/de/en/news/prince-h ... of-mayotte

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https://www.afd.fr/en/news/groundbreaki ... ecosystems

A groundbreaking partnership in Mayotte to support the lagoon and coastal communities and ecosystems
AFD news

Published on June 8, 2026



Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Ministry for Overseas Territories, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the Ismaili Imamat have launched a groundbreaking partnership in Mayotte to protect the lagoon, restore coastal ecosystems, and strengthen community resilience to environmental challenges.

On Monday, 8 June 2026, World Oceans Day, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Ministry for Overseas Territories, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the Ismaili Imamat signed a memorandum of understanding launching a new partnership for Mayotte. This is the Aga Khan Foundation’s first partnership in a French territory.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, Minister for Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou, and AFD Chief Executive Officer Christophe Lecourtier. It marks a new phase in the partnership between AFD and the Aga Khan Foundation at a time when Mayotte faces major environmental, economic, and social challenges, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which caused widespread devastation in late 2024.

The partnership also reflects growing efforts by development actors to protect the world’s oceans, building on the momentum of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), held in Nice in June 2025.
[Feature] Protecting Our Oceans

The agreement signed in Paris establishes the operational framework for an ambitious project to protect Mayotte’s lagoon, restore coastal ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of the territory and its communities in the face of environmental pressures.

Protecting Mayotte’s lagoon

Mayotte, France’s 101st department, is one of the country’s five global biodiversity hotspots. The island is surrounded by a vast coral barrier that forms the largest reef-lagoon complex in the western Indian Ocean, covering 1,100 km² with an average depth of 40 meters.

Mayotte’s lagoon is home to exceptional wildlife and represents a unique natural heritage. Its remarkable coastal and marine ecosystems include coral reefs – fringing, inner, and barrier reefs – as well as dry forest islets, seagrass beds, and mangroves.
Preserving mangroves, a natural rampart against the ravages of climate change

The project aims to support more sustainable management of this natural heritage through an integrated approach linking marine, coastal, and terrestrial environments, thereby strengthening the land-sea continuum.

The first phase of the project, scheduled for 2027–2030, will focus on three main priorities: preserving the lagoon and its resources, restoring mangroves and other coastal buffer zones, and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices through agroecology and agroforestry. It will complement the Five-Year Strategy for the Reconstruction and Development of Mayotte, launched in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido and led by the Interministerial Mission for the Reconstruction and Renewal of Mayotte.

Planned activities include monitoring water quality, supporting more sustainable fishing practices, restoring mangrove ecosystems, reducing coastal erosion, assisting farmers in adopting sustainable practices, and developing awareness-raising and participatory management tools.

One of the program’s specific objectives will also be to help create the conditions for the inscription of Mayotte’s double barrier reef on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Aga Khan Foundation is contributing €8.5 million to this first phase of the project, which is expected to begin in early 2027.

Working with local stakeholders

The project will be implemented by three public operators: the Mayotte Marine Natural Park, the Coastal Protection Agency (Conservatoire du littoral), and the Public Establishment for the Renewal and Development of Mayotte. Local associations, which play an active role in environmental protection, will also be involved. Technical assistance from the Aga Khan Foundation is planned, particularly in the field of agroecology.

“For the first time, building on 35 years of partnership in Africa and Asia, the Aga Khan Development Network and AFD are joining forces in a French department, Mayotte. In the wake of the devastating Cyclone Chido, we are committed to working together to support the most vulnerable territories, combine our expertise and resources, and contribute to the development of the archipelago, the well-being of its people, and the protection of its lagoon,” said Christophe Lecourtier, Chief Executive Officer of AFD.

A new chapter for Mayotte

For AFD, this partnership reflects an evolving approach to development in France’s overseas territories, where cooperation between public institutions, development partners, and local stakeholders is increasingly essential to address complex environmental, economic, and social challenges.

[kmaherali]

UCA celebrates Class of 2026 and concludes Silver Jubilee Year
University of Central Asia


Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan joins the Class of 2026 during UCA’s graduation ceremony and Silver Jubilee celebrations.
AKDN / Iskender Ermekov

Central Asia, 25 June 2026 – The University of Central Asia (UCA) celebrated a major milestone on 20 June with the graduation of its sixth cohort of undergraduate students at the University’s residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and Khorog, Tajikistan. The occasion also marked the University’s 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of advancing education, research and development across Central Asia.

UCA's Silver Jubilee Year commemorated 25 years since the signing of the International Treaty that established the University through a unique partnership between the Republics of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ismaili Imamat. Throughout the year, UCA has celebrated its enduring commitment to improving the quality of life of people living in the mountain regions of Central Asia.

The occasion was honoured by the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, who joined graduates, their families, government representatives, members of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), UCA's Board of Trustees and other distinguished guests in celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 and reflecting on UCA's first quarter century of impact across Central Asia.

Sixty graduates from the three founding states, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Russia, received degrees in Computer Science, Communications and Media, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Global Economics. This year's graduates represent a new generation of leaders, researchers, innovators and professionals whose academic work reflects many of the critical challenges and opportunities facing Central Asia today.

In a message to the graduating class, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan highlighted UCA’s role in advancing the expanding educational, economic and social opportunities across Central Asia and reflected on the 25th anniversary as a time to honour the extraordinary partnership that led to the University’s founding. He also delivered a message from UCA’s Chancellor, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, reaffirming the University’s commitment to research, innovation and the sustainable development of mountain societies. Read the full speech https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/res ... ge-from-hh

In his message, the Chancellor reflected on the broader purpose of education, noting: “Your education has given you knowledge and skills. I hope it has also strengthened your judgement, deepened your sense of responsibility, prepared you to listen with care, to think independently and to work with others in a spirit of respect.”

The graduation programme also featured addresses by the Rector, government representatives and the class valedictorian.

“UCA has brought world-class higher education to mountain regions, enabling young people to access quality learning in their own communities,” noted Jyldyz Mambetova, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Naryn Region.

UCA Rector Professor Christopher J Gerry highlighted how education can be transformative – not only for individuals, but also for their families and communities: “What makes this university distinctive is not simply its programmes or its locations, but the connections it creates. We bring together students, researchers and practitioners from different countries, cultures and disciplines, and encourage them to build bridges between worlds that too often remain separate.”

Both the Chancellor's message and the Rector's address emphasised the importance of curiosity, judgement, ethical leadership and cross-cultural understanding in a world increasingly shaped by technological, environmental and social change.

“We have grown up in mountainous communities where uncertainty is not a rarity – it is the order of the day,” said Valedictorian Syed Shujaat Ali, who hails from Gilgit, Pakistan. Reflecting on the experiences of his graduating class and the future ahead, he concluded: “The world does not want us to be perfect, it needs us to be present, persistent and purposeful. The mountains teach us that the summit is not the end, but simply a higher perspective bringing into view the next valley and peak worth exploring. So, keep climbing, and do so together.”

As UCA concludes its first 25 years and looks towards the future, the Class of 2026 stands as a testament to the University's enduring mission: preparing graduates with the knowledge, skills, values and sense of purpose needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities, and the wider world. Looking ahead, UCA remains committed to building on this foundation to expand opportunities and strengthen its impact across the region in the years to come.

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/wha ... -570519978

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UCA convenes International Conference on Mountains, Climate and Health in Central Asia


Prince Aly Muhammad delivers opening remarks at UCA’s first International Conference on Mountains, Climate and Health in Central Asia, where he noted: “The work ahead will demand stronger institutions, better data, deeper cooperation and investment in you
Photo: AKDN / Iskender Ermekov


Participants from across Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Germany, the United States, France, Norway, Canada, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland listen to opening remarks at UCA’s first International Conference on Mountains, Clima
Photo: AKDN / Iskender Ermekov


The conference reflected UCA's growing role as a regional centre for research, policy engagement and knowledge exchange on the opportunities and challenges facing mountain societies.
Photo: AKDN / Iskender Ermekov


As preparations begin for the Bishkek+25 Global Mountain Summit in 2027, the conference underscored the importance of strengthening the connections between research, policy and practice.
Photo: AKDN / Iskender Ermekov


Last week, the University of Central Asia (UCA) convened more than 200 researchers, policymakers, development practitioners and international partners to examine how climate change is affecting the health, livelihoods and well-being of mountain communities across Central Asia, at its first International Conference on Mountains, Climate and Health in Central Asia.

Central Asia is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Mountain areas are warming faster than the global average, with rapid glacier retreat, shifting precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme weather events already affecting public health, food security, water resources, livelihoods and infrastructure across the region.

Opening the two-day conference on 18 June, UCA Rector Professor Christopher J Gerry highlighted a central theme: the need to understand climate change not only as an environmental phenomenon, but as a human challenge with wide-ranging impacts on health, livelihoods, food systems, economic opportunity and community resilience.

In his remarks, Prince Aly Muhammad highlighted the importance of investing in knowledge, partnerships and human capacity to support the resilience and sustainable development of mountain societies.

“These challenges cannot be addressed by any one institution, or any one country, acting alone,” he noted. “Health systems, ecosystems and livelihoods – just as with rivers and glaciers – do not stop neatly at national borders. In mountain regions, cooperation is a practical necessity. The work ahead will demand stronger institutions, better data, deeper cooperation and investment in young people.” Read the full speech

Opening addresses were also delivered by Almaz Musaev, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Nurlan Kurmalayev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Speakers included senior government officials, representatives of international organisations, leading researchers and development partners. Among them was Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for the World Bank Group's Planet Vice Presidency, reflecting growing regional and international attention to the challenges facing mountain communities.

Participants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Germany, the United States, France, Norway, Canada, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland explored how changing mountain systems are increasingly shaping the everyday lives and well-being of the people who depend upon them.

Particular emphasis was placed on mountain-specific challenges that are often overlooked in global climate and health discussions. While mountain regions experience some of the earliest and most severe impacts of climate change, they remain underrepresented in research, policy frameworks and financing mechanisms. The conference also showcased emerging research on glacier dynamics, water security, air quality, food systems, human health, climate-induced vulnerabilities, and innovative approaches to climate-health data and decision-making.

The conference reflected UCA's growing role as a regional centre for research, policy engagement and knowledge exchange on the opportunities and challenges facing mountain societies. Through its research institutes, academic programmes and partnerships, the University is increasingly contributing evidence and expertise to support decision-making on climate resilience and sustainable development across Central Asia.

As preparations begin for the Bishkek+25 Global Mountain Summit in 2027, the conference underscored the importance of strengthening the connections between research, policy and practice. Participants highlighted the need for greater collaboration, investment and evidence-informed action to protect the health, resilience and prosperity of mountain communities across Central Asia. Through its programmes and community engagement, UCA will continue to support research and regional partnerships to advance that goal.

https://the.ismaili/ca/en/news/uca-conv ... ntral-asia

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Prince Aly Muhammed Aga Khan - University of Central Asia class of 2026

The Full 2026 graduation video of the guidance and insights delivered by His Highness Prince Ali Muhammad Aga Khan on behalf of Hazar Imam - His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V

Link to Video

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mahebub- ... =copy_link


More and with more images at link

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ucentral ... =copy_link

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ucentral ... =copy_link

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https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/res ... d-aga-khan

Opening remarks by Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan at UCA’s first International Conference on Mountains, Climate and Health in Central Asia
University of Central Asia

By Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan , Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic · 18 June 2026 ·



Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. 

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues, friends,

It is a great pleasure to be with you in Bishkek, and an honour to help open this International Conference on Mountains, Climate and Health in Central Asia.

Let me begin by thanking the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for its continuing leadership on the mountain agenda, and the University of Central Asia for bringing us together.

My thanks also to everyone who travelled here to contribute your expertise, perspectives and commitment to advancing this important agenda.

I come to this conference, admittedly, not as a specialist, but with a great respect: a great respect for the landscapes that we are discussing, for the communities who know them best and for the people in this room who have devoted their life’s work to understanding and supporting them.

This is a fitting place for such a gathering. In Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia, mountains are not simply a feature of the landscape. They are the landscape.

Mountains are part of daily life bringing challenges but also opportunities.

They shape identity, memory, livelihoods and the bonds between communities that live amongst them.

And they also remind us how closely human life is tied to the natural systems around it.

One of my own reflections, as I have prepared for today, is that climate change in mountain regions cannot be understood only through figures, maps, or projections – important as those are. It is also understood through the daily experience of the communities that live there: through changes in water, food, mobility, health and the confidence with which people can plan for the future.

Across Central Asia, mountain communities have long demonstrated resilience in the face of environmental shocks and uncertainty. Yet rising temperatures, glacier retreat, changing rainfall and snowfall, water stress, food insecurity and more frequent extreme events are placing that resilience under growing strain.

These are not only scientific or environmental challenges. They are human challenges. They raise fundamental questions about security, opportunity and the future of mountain communities.

Can a family depend on the water that it needs?

Can a child reach school or a clinic safely?

Can farmers plan their season?

Can communities remain rooted in the places they call home?

Those questions give this conference its profound importance.

The theme of mountains, climate and health seems to me especially powerful because it asks us not to separate issues that people experience together. A change in a glacier is also a change in a water system. A change in water can become a change in nutrition, sanitation, livelihoods, or public health. A strain on infrastructure often leads to strain on families.

These connections are complex, and many of you understand them in ways far more detailed and practical than I do. What I would simply offer is that our response should also be connected. Science matters deeply. So do policy and investment. But so too does listening – to communities, to young people, to local knowledge and to those closest to the changes we are trying to understand.

This spirit is very close to the purpose of the University of Central Asia. UCA was created to serve the mountain societies of this region – not from a distance, but from within. Its research and educational programmes reflect a belief that knowledge is most valuable when it is rooted in place, shared across borders and used in service of humanity’s well-being.

A quarter of a century ago, my father, His Late Highness the Aga Khan IV, spoke passionately about his commitment to mountain communities. He said:

“While mountains often act as formidable barriers within and between countries, they also represent a continuous link across national boundaries.”

I find that notion very moving. And it feels even more relevant today than it did then.

If there is one lesson that seems clear, it is that these challenges cannot be addressed by any one institution, or any one country, acting alone. Health systems, ecosystems and livelihoods – just as with rivers and with the glaciers – do not stop neatly at national borders. In mountain regions, cooperation is a practical necessity.

I am pleased that this conference contributes to the wider path toward the Bishkek+25 Global Mountain Summit to be held in 2027. It reflects the Kyrgyz Republic’s continuing role in keeping mountain societies on the global agenda. But just as importantly, it creates space for practical exchange – for turning evidence into action, and concern into preparedness.

As we begin, I hope we can hold two thoughts together.

The first is that mountain communities are facing real and urgent pressures. Those pressures deserve honest attention, sustained investment and serious policy engagement informed by evidence-based research.

The second is that mountain communities are not defined by vulnerability alone. They are places of resilience, knowledge, adaptation, enterprise and care for the natural world. Increasingly, they are also places of opportunity. For generations, people in these landscapes have lived with uncertainty and with change. Their experience is not only something to protect. It is something from which the wider world can learn.

The work ahead will demand science and policy, but also patience and humility. It will demand stronger institutions, better data, deeper cooperation and investment in young people.

Above all, it will demand us to remember that climate resilience is not an abstract goal. It is about families, communities and the right to live with security, in good health and with hope for the future.

Over these two days, this conference, convened by the University of Central Asia and its academic and development partners, will deepen understanding, and identify practical steps to enhance the quality of life for mountain communities of Central Asia and beyond.

On behalf of the Aga Khan Development Network, I’d like to thank all of those who have made this gathering possible. 

I wish you a thoughtful and productive set of discussions.

Thank you.

[Admin]

Introductory remarks by Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan before delivering a message from His Highness the Aga Khan at UCA’s 2026 Convocation
University of Central Asia

By Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan , Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic · 20 June 2026 ·

VIDEO OF SPEECH: https://ucentralasia.org/resources-and- ... n-ceremony

ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/cDMxG5tkVM0




Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.

Honourable Ministers,

Honourable Governors,

Chair and Members of the Board of Trustees,

Rector, faculty and staff of the University of Central Asia,

Parents, partners and friends,

And most importantly, dear graduates of the Class of 2026:

It is a great pleasure to be with you today. And it is an honour to share this moment with you and your families, here in Naryn.

Speaking from my own, relatively recent experience, a convocation is a day where you may feel gratitude. You may feel pride and relief for having completed your undergraduate degree, you may feel excitement bittersweet:

You may be saying goodbye to friends you’ve spent much of the last five years with.

You might be nervous about the world you’re entering and finding your place in it.

Believe me, I felt all these emotions myself not so long ago. But no matter how much may be running through your head today, I’d like you to keep the following in mind.

In a world changing as quickly as ours, dedicating any amount of time to completing an undergraduate degree is a serious consideration. Leaving your homes and your families behind is daunting. And, quite frankly, coming to UCA was a leap of faith.

This relatively young university, with its close-knit student body, small faculty, and in such remote locations probably caused you and your families a second or even third round of consideration. But that is part of what makes UCA, and your time being a part of it, so special.

Young institutions require a certain spirit, patience, and character from everyone to help build them. It has required all the more from each and every one of you over the last five years.

That choice says something important about you.

It says that you are curious.

That you are open to new terrain.

That you are prepared to trust yourselves, and one another, even when the path ahead is not clear.

It says that you are willing to take a leap of faith.

Now, those qualities are not written on your diploma. But they are in you, and may prove to be among the most important parts of your education.

So I ask you, let it not be the last risk you take. Let this not be the last leap of faith.

I hope you will carry forward the curiosity that brought you here.

I hope you will keep trusting yourselves to tread new terrain.

This is your achievement, and it is a moment of great pride for your families, your teachers and the whole UCA community. On behalf of all those gathered here, I offer you my very warmest congratulations.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have shared a few of my own reflections on this milestone occasion.

It is now my honour to share a message from my brother, the Chancellor of the University, His Highness the Aga Khan:

Dear graduates, members of the University community, families and friends,

I am very pleased to send my warmest greetings to you on this important day.

I regret that I am not able to be with you in person. But I am very glad that Prince Aly is with you in Naryn, and that this Convocation brings together the University community in both Naryn and in Khorog.

UCA was created as one university across more than one place. Today, even when separated by borders and distance, you gather as one community.

To the graduates, I offer my warmest congratulations.

This is a day of achievement for each of you.

It is also a day of pride for your families, who have supported you with love and sacrifice.

It is a day of pride for your teachers, who have guided and challenged you.

And it is a day of gratitude to all those whose work has made your education possible: the faculty and staff, the Board of Trustees, the donors, volunteers, partners and communities that have stood behind this University.

A graduation is always a personal milestone. Yours has a special place in the history of the University of Central Asia. You graduate 25 years after the Treaty was signed to establish this institution.

That Treaty brought together the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and the Ismaili Imamat, in a bold commitment to the peoples of this region, especially to its mountain societies.

It is therefore only right to acknowledge the vision of UCA’s founders. I do so with particular gratitude for the vision and dedication of my late father, His Highness Aga Khan IV – the University’s first Chancellor.

He believed deeply that talent is not limited by geography.

He believed that young people in mountain communities should have access to education of the highest quality.

And he believed that knowledge, when joined with ethics and service, could improve the quality of life for individuals, families and societies.

That vision remains at the heart of UCA.

Twenty-five years is a meaningful span of time: it’s long enough to see that the founding idea was sound, to recognise the dedication of those who have built this University with such care, and to celebrate real achievements.

But 25 years is also a moment to look ahead.

The world around us is changing quickly.

Knowledge is growing at remarkable speed. Technology is reshaping economies and societies. Climate change is affecting lives and livelihoods, especially in mountain regions. And the needs of communities are becoming more and more complex.

That is why this anniversary year has not only been a time of celebration. It has also been a time of reflection and renewal.

As part of that work, the University has undertaken a Strategic Review to consider how UCA can strengthen its focus, deepen its impact and remain true to its mandate.

The task ahead is not to become a different university. It is to become an even stronger one: more focused, more sustainable, and still more able to serve the people and societies for whom it was created.

That is why, today, I wish to speak to the graduates most directly.

You are the true measure of this University.

Buildings, programmes and strategies matter. But the success of a university is measured by the lives of its graduates, and by their contribution to others.

Your education has given you knowledge and skills. I hope it has also strengthened your judgement, deepened your sense of responsibility, prepared you to listen with care, to think independently, and to work with others in a spirit of respect.

You are entering a world that will ask much of you: to adapt to change, to make choices in uncertain conditions, to use new tools wisely, and to care not only about your own success, but also about the well-being of your communities.

I hope you will meet that world with confidence.

Not the confidence that claims to have every answer, but the confidence that comes from preparation, from values, and from knowing that you are part of something larger than yourselves.

Wherever life now takes you, I hope you will remain connected to one another, to your communities, and to the University of Central Asia.

As UCA continues to evolve, you too will have opportunities to serve, to lead and to help shape the future of this region.

My hope is that you will carry forward the spirit that brought this University into being: a spirit of courage, of curiosity, of service and of confidence in the future.

Once again, I offer my warmest congratulations to the Class of 2026.

May the years ahead bring you fulfilment, wisdom and many opportunities to contribute to the societies you will serve.

Thank you.