The late Aga Khan, who transformed Islamic philanthropy into a global development powerhouse over six decades of leadership, died this week in Lisbon at age 88, leaving behind a network of development institutions operating across the globe.
As the hereditary leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, pioneered a unique approach to development that blended faith-based values with secular institution-building, while championing locally led development decades before it became mainstream practice.
His death has prompted tributes from world leaders and development practitioners who praised his distinctive contribution to global development, spanning education, health care, disaster response, and enterprise development through AKDN's multiple agencies.
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Rebecca L. Root
Rebecca L. Root is a freelance reporter for Devex based in Bangkok. Previously senior associate & reporter, she produced news stories, video, and podcasts as well as partnership content. She has a background in finance, travel, and global development journalism and has written for a variety of publications while living and working in Bangkok, New York, London, and Barcelona.
