The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) is a pioneering rural development non-profit organisation, established by Aga Khan Foundation, in 1982 to help improve the quality of life of the local communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. Registered under the Companies Act, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), AKRSP approach is community-led and encourages equitable social and economic development in the region. AKRSP has been working across all 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and two districts of Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). In 2024, AKRSP expanded its programme to Sindh, further extending its impact and continuing its mission of improving the quality of life for rural communities across Pakistan. AKRSP works across seven key thematic areas to foster sustainable development and build resilience in the communities it serves . These thematic areas include agriculture and food security, climate resilience, health and nutrition, education, early childhood development, civil society, and work and enterprise. By integrating these focus areas into its development interventions, AKRSP aims to create holistic, community-driven solutions that address the multifaceted needs of the local communities. AKRSP has been at the forefront of improving livelihoods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral for over four decades, working in close partnership with the Governments and local communities. Over the years, AKRSP has achieved significant milestones, including the construction and rehabilitation of more than 4,000 small infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, irrigation channels, and hydropower units. The organisation has also planted 51 million fruit and forest trees and developed hundreds of acres of marginal lands, contributing to environmental sustainability. The organisation has supported local farmers in establishing more than 500 passive solar greenhouses, 50 solar-powered lift irrigation, drip and sprinkler irrigation schemes. AKRSP is promoting community-based micro-hydel projects by constructing a total capacity of 33MW to provide clean energy to communities in remote areas. The organisation is also promoting regenerative agriculture and green businesses/Nature-based Solutions. Furthermore, AKRSP has mobilised nearly $5 million in village savings and established more than 4,993 community organisations, fostering local governance that is participatory, democratic, transparent, and accountable to their members. AKRSP success has led to the replication of its programme model across Pakistan and in the region. Its approaches have shaped further collaborations led by the Aga Khan Foundation in other countries, such as Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Mozambique.
