In the news

The Asian Civilisations Museum presents an exhibition of works of art from the Aga Khan Museum. Featuring masterpieces of Islamic art and architecture spanning many centuries and from regions around the world, Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Architecture in Islamic Arts are on display at the ACM from 19 July to 28 October 2012. Architecture, with tiled and gilt domes, shaded courtyards, and inscribed gates, became a natural expression of Islam.

Progress on maternal, newborn and child health, in the 75 highest-burden countries, most in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where more than 95 per cent of all maternal and child deaths occur, has been laid out in a new 220-page report, Building a Future for Women and Children, which is published by the Countdown to 2015 initiative.

Regional media firm Nation Media Group (NMG) has launched an international money transfer service targeting a share of the over $2 billion in remittances sent into [East Africa] every year. The new product — dubbed NationHela — will allow customers to send and receive money anywhere in the world with the funds being credited straight into their NationHela prepaid Visa cards.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has done so much to promote good architecture in the developing world through the architectural prizes it awards every three years, is now commissioning projects as well, such as plans for a new university in Tanzania, designed by the award-winning New York firm Weiss/Manfredi and the Mexican architects Legorreta + Legorreta.

This year School for Professional and Continuing Education again recognized learners from Afghanistan who studied at SPCE Khorog under the “Cross Border Vocational Education in Badakhshan” (CVEB) Phase II program, a joint initiative of UCA and the United States Agency for International Development.  Twenty-two Afghan graduates received certificates for completing basic-level courses in IT, Conversational English, and Cashier/Bookkeeping.

Pakistan has always been a knowledge and talent powerhouse of the Muslim world. It has produced gold-winning Olympians, a Nobel Laureate, an Oscar winner, world class scientists, professionals, authors, poets and artists. Pakistanis have especially excelled in the field of education and learning. Our graduates have ranked among the best in universities and educational institutions around the globe.

The Aga Khan University's nursing and midwifery education programmes has received funding from the government of Germany to develop region-wide accreditation for curricula for health professionals in the region. The German Ambassador in Tanzania, Mr Klaus-Peter Brandes has signed a bilateral grant agreement in Arusha last week in the tune of Tsh19bn ($12m) with the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Dr.

The third African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF-3), organized by the Internet Society, will be held 22-24 August 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Aga Khan Foundation CEO Shahid Punjani, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan Alexander Avanessov and UCA Chief Operations Officer Robert Wheeler met with the First Deputy Governor of Naryn province Emil Alymkulov to discuss development issues in the region.

“The Basti might be part of Delhi and close to many well-known hospitals, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, but it is cut off from this development,” says Jyotsna Lall, senior programme officer at Aga Khan Foundation, the philanthropic organisation that has been working in the community since 2007.