The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) positions itself as a unique, multi-sectoral development agency focused on improving quality of life. Its longstanding presence in Tanzania, since 1905, reflects a commitment to pioneering initiatives in education, healthcare, and economic growth. In a recent interview, AKDN’s Diplomatic Representative to Tanzania and East Africa, Amb Amin Mawji, shares key insights about how one of the largest private development networks in the world has shaped economic development and continues to impact the lives of many in the region. “Tanzania holds a special place because the very first Aga Khan project was in Tanzania – a school that began in 1905. It was a school for girls, open to all communities. In discussing impact, let’s focus on the AKDN’s primary role: acting as a pioneering organisation. That school created an environment where diversity and pluralism became part of our daily mindset, and where girls’ education became a priority because we made it one. That’s how to understand our impact, whether in education, healthcare, or economic development,” he explains.