The Aga Khan Foundation (www.akdn.org/akf), one of a group of nine development agencies, which form the Aga Khan Development Network. Their common goal is to help the poor achieve a level of self-reliance whereby they are able to plan their own livelihoods.

Within its thematic areas of interest, the Foundation looks for innovative approaches to generic problems. Projects are designed to be learning experiences that contribute to the understanding of complex issues and identify solutions that can be adapted to conditions in many different regions. Replicability is essential to the creation of useful models. Wherever appropriate, approaches are tested in urban as well as rural settings, and in different cultures and geographic environments.

It is equally committed to bringing valuable lessons to the attention of policymakers and others whose decisions affect the lives of the poor.

The Foundation shares what it learns with the public, raising awareness of important issues facing disadvantaged sectors of the international community.

To make the most of its resources, the Aga Khan Foundation has a sharp focus, clearly defined objectives and a consistent approach to its work. It concentrates on selected issues in health, education, rural development and the strengthening of civil society.

Following the completion of a study on poverty and social exclusion in Lisbon and Porto, AKF Portugal launched the Urban Community Support Programme (UCSP) in 2004. UCSP is known locally as K’Cidade (pronounced capacity). The programme aims to address the challenges facing poor and socially excluded urban communities, in particular immigrants and ethnic minorities. The objective is to realise new ways of supporting these communities, reinforcing governments attempts to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population, and, at the same time, strengthening both the capability and professionalism of civil society groups and local voluntary associations.

The programme is being implemented in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Lisbon in the Municipalities of Lisbon and Sintra, in new social housing neighbourhoods built for relocated populations from shanty towns. High levels of unemployment or low wage employment and poor educational attainment prevail. Emphasis is being placed on creating and strengthening civil society groups and local associations.

UCSP has begun to develop a platform from which to address issues resulting from poverty and social exclusion in urban areas, including a response to poor education, unemployment and low wage employment and ‘information inclusion’. UCSP has introduced a number of new approaches and methods to Portugal, including:

• mobilising a wide and diverse network of partners to respond to poverty and social exclusion, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, the Municipalities of Lisbon and Sintra, Universities, private organisations including Gulbenkian Foundation and companies including Hewlett Packard, business associations and many local associations and networks;
• working with people from all ages, youth, seniors and young children, through an integrated and multi input approach which is new to Portugal;
• promoting and supporting volunteerism and encouraging neighbourhood initiatives conceived by local residents; and
  
• testing out and sharing new methods that put the beneficiaries at the centre of the development process and has introduced new techniques that attempt to help communities drive their own agenda and evaluate their own progress.

Contact

MARIA J. MARQUES

Aga Khan Foundation Portugal
Centro Ismaili, Av. Lusíada nº1,
Portugal

Tel: + 351 21 722 9001
Fax: + 351 21 722 9011

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www.akdn.org