AKDN | Habitat Planning and Improvement

We conducted an urban habitat assessment in 2021 in Pul e Khumri, Afghanistan. Key stakeholders in the city worked with AKAH to develop a risk-sensitive, low-carbon development land use plan, accounting for seismic hazards, water resources, drought sensitivity and other geological, hydrological and climate hazards. This should strengthen the city's resilience to multiple natural disasters and human crises.

Dasht-e-Dehkhaw village in Afghan Badakhshan suffered a devastating flood in 2017, leaving many displaced and much of the village destroyed. To ensure the safety of the community, AKAH has launched a habitat planning project and is working with the community to relocate to a safer place nearby in Darwaz, Badakhshan. The project aims to apply participatory and resilient planning approaches to create a liveable and safe place for rural life. In order to best maintain cultural autonomy, the entire village will be relocated through joint efforts by key stakeholders. The habitat planning process will look at current and future needs for the community for housing, essential services, and critical access routes to develop locally adapted spatial plans and designs. During site planning, the district road has been relocated to reduce vehicle movement in newly designated residential neighbourhoods.

In India, we work with communities on habitat improvement through a variety of interventions, from the planning and design phase through to construction and technical assistance for both housing and critical infrastructure. We facilitate improvements such as roof rainwater harvesting, improving water availability and building sanitation facilities. We also promote green building technologies, including cool roofs and solutions integrating trees and vegetation for urban cooling. We are working on designs and approaches for greener, environmentally sensitive urban community living.

Together with the Prince Aly Khan Hospital Charitable Trust, we have designed a green, energy- and water-efficient residential high-rise redevelopment project in South Mumbai, which has earned IFC EDGE Advanced green building pre-certification.

In the village of Chitrawad, our participatory habitat planning process aims to improve housing and water and sanitation infrastructure, while reducing social exclusion and environmental and natural hazard risk. Find out more

AKAH and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) are working on the Khorog Urban Resilience Programme. This is a five-year initiative designed to set up the structures, systems and capacity to transform Khorog into a model resilient city, promoting sustainable economic growth and investment. The programme links governmental structures, planning and investments with initiatives by the community and national and international partners to build resilience and plan for opportunity for the citizens of Khorog. It will promote inclusive urban development and enhance the quality of life of urban dwellers. Find out more

AKAH is working with the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) and the design firm KVA MATx to help the residents of Basid, Tajikistan, relocate to a safer area. The flexible, scalable plan includes improving access; providing clean water; enriching the land through soil and vegetation conservation; and designing safer and greener homes, community spaces and village layout. Watch the video