​Message from the Director

It is my pleasure to welcome you to our webpage.

The Institute for Human Development was established to advance knowledge about human development, particularly focusing on children, families, communities, and the institutions that support them within resource-poor regions of the world. The Institute is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge with direct relevance for policies, programmes, and practices that enhance life experiences at all stages of human development. The programs and services delivered by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in communities around the world present the Institute with a “real-world" learning space to understand how development assistance works for its intended beneficiaries. The Institute is well-positioned to be a driving force in research and programs aimed at building strong foundations for children's development, education, and overall well-being in the poorest regions of the world.

In the coming years, the Institute for Human Development is set to be a leading hub for innovative, cutting edge, and collaborative research that transforms people's lives through new scientific findings. We would like to invest in:

  1. Carrying out high impact research that is driven by the needs of the populations we serve

  2. Engaging policymakers and practitioners so that we can translate scientific evidence into policy and practice

  3. Train a critical mass of students from low- and middle-income countries to be able to carry out state of the art studies in the field of human development

We welcome collaborations and partnerships with local institutions, global multilateral organizations, and donor agencies—all for the purpose of positioning the Institute to make a meaningful and practical impact, particularly on children, families, and communities in marginalized settings.