The Aga Khan Foundation operates a training programme for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Egypt, funded by the European Commission. The programme has helped strengthen 25 local CSOs in 17 villages in rural Aswan. The activities have reached over 80,000 beneficiaries and created 450 jobs.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
The Aga Khan Foundation operates a training programme for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Egypt, …
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
The Aga Khan Foundation operates a training programme for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Egypt, funded by the European Commission. The programme has helped strengthen 25 local CSOs in 17 villages in rural Aswan. The activities have reached over 80,000 beneficiaries and created 450 jobs.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
The Aga Khan Foundation operates a training programme for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Egypt, …
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
Egypt | Civil Society
AKDN’s Civil Society Capacity Building programme in Aswan and Cairo provides local grass-root civil society organisations (CSOs) with technical and financial support. It also strengthens the overall local ecosystem of civic work by creating strong links and partnerships between the empowered local civil society and governmental bodies. The programme is implemented through the Om Habibeh Foundation. This is an Egyptian, not-for-profit organisation of long standing established by the Aga Khan’s late step-grandmother, the Begum Sultan Mahomed Shah.
$1.1 million
In 2025, AKF-supported CSOs raised almost $1.1 million of support from local donors.
The programme was established in 2007 to promote civic engagement and participation, community responsibility and capacity building in local development agencies. It fosters stronger, more impactful networking between various local civil society and community development organisations. Communities are able to engage in finding solutions to water, sanitation, irrigation, electricity, infrastructure and healthcare problems. In 2025, civil society organisations supported by AKF reached around 128,000 people in Egypt.
AKF uses the Organisational Capacity Assessment tool to assist local organisations to identify institutional gaps. We then work with them to develop institutional strengthening plans. We use face-to-face and video-based training and mentoring.
We address complex social problems by facilitating youth and women to express their needs, through local platforms and gender-inclusive workshops. This has helped foster youth-led volunteer initiatives which support vulnerable groups.
We encourage philanthropic giving at the community and national levels through grassroots campaigns. In Egypt, we use a community-private sector philanthropy analysis tool to build the fundraising capacity of local CSOs. This helps them to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups and mobilise local resources. In 2025, AKF-supported CSOs raised almost $1.1 million of support from local donors.