Denmark, Aga Khan Foundation partner to promote climate-resilient livelihoods
ISLAMABAD: The Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKF-P) and the Embassy of Denmark on Tuesday signed an agreement to support climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods for vulnerable mountain communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, aiming to strengthen food security and income stability in climate-affected regions.
Under the initiative, communities will be supported to adopt climate-smart and regenerative farming practices, improve water management systems, and develop locally viable green business models suited to fragile mountain environments. The project is expected to directly benefit around 5,890 individuals, with up to 34,000 people gaining indirect benefits, with a strong focus on the inclusion of women, youth and marginalised groups.
The agreement was signed by H.E. Maja Derrous Mortensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, and Akhtar Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan. Senior representatives from the Embassy of Denmark and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan were present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Mortensen said the initiative marked Denmark’s third partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan. “Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral by equipping them with the tools and knowledge required for climate-smart agriculture,” she said, adding that empowering women and youth through equitable participation was a central pillar of the project.
Akhtar Iqbal said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to addressing the growing impacts of climate change in some of Pakistan’s most vulnerable regions. He noted that the initiative would strengthen local agricultural systems and support communities in adapting to changing environmental conditions.
As part of the programme, farmers will receive training in climate-smart agricultural practices, while efforts will be made to improve irrigation infrastructure and promote efficient water management. Youth and women entrepreneurs will participate in ideation boot camps, with selected participants receiving micro-grants to develop green livelihood initiatives. Local communities and other stakeholders will also be engaged through outreach activities and policy dialogues.
The project will further support community-owned water and natural resource management systems, with the objective of developing practical and replicable models for resilient mountain agriculture. Implementation will be led by the Aga Khan Foundation in collaboration with AKDN agencies, including the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).
