The Aga Khan University (AKU) Research Office in Pakistan has been awarded the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) Gold Tier Certification, placing it among a select group of institutions worldwide recognised for excellence in financial governance, transparency, and grant management.
This achievement comes shortly after AKU's Research Office in Kenya received the GFGP Platinum Tier Certification in October 2025, making AKU one of the few universities globally to demonstrate such high-level compliance across operations in multiple countries.
The Pakistan certification was granted by BDO LLP, a licensed GFGP auditing body, following a rigorous assessment against the African Regional Standards Organisation's (ARS 1651:2018) Gold tier requirements. The audit examined AKU, Pakistan's compliance across four core areas: Financial Management, Human Resources, Procurement, and Governance.
This milestone is particularly significant for the region. AKU is one of only five organisations in Asia to have attained GFGP certification to date, comprising three institutions certified at the Bronze tier, one at the Platinum tier, and AKU as the sole institution at the Gold tier in the region. This distinction underscores the University's leadership in internationally benchmarked research administration and its commitment to the highest standards of accountability and governance.
“The GFGP Gold certification is a testament to the Research Office's commitment to accountable, transparent, and efficient grant management," said Professor Salim S.Virani, Vice Provost, Research, AKU. “Coming soon after our Kenya office achieved Platinum tier, this milestone showcases AKU's continent-spanning excellence in research governance and strengthens our standing with global funders."
The certification process, which began in October 2024, required extraordinary cross-departmental coordination. More than four major departments and 17 sections across AKU collaborated to respond to over 200 detailed compliance questions and uploaded extensive supporting evidence to the Global Grant Community (GGC) portal.
“This achievement reflects the dedication, discipline, and teamwork of every unit involved," said Melaine D'Cruze, Director, Research Office, Pakistan. “Meeting the Gold tier standards was challenging, but it has significantly strengthened our internal systems, enhanced our readiness for future audits, and elevated the confidence funders place in AKU."
Auditor Gerald Bates of BDO LLP commended AKU's efforts saying: “As a global licensed Certification Body for the GFGP standard, we are asked to perform multiple certifications each year. From this work, we appreciate that the gold tier is, by design, a high bar for any organisation to clear: requiring compliance to be demonstrated against across over 200 individual clauses as captured within the standard. AKU should, accordingly be congratulated on their successful certification".
The GFGP Standard, developed by the African Academy of Sciences' GGC, is the world's first international benchmark for good financial grant management. It provides a structured, evidence-based framework to reduce risk, strengthen institutional capacity, and ensure transparent stewardship of donor resources.
With Gold certification now achieved, AKU will focus on implementing audit recommendations, deepening compliance practices, and preparing for potential advancement to the Platinum tier within the next two to three years.
