The Aga Khan, founder and chairman of AKDN
Afghan company wins prestigious philanthropy prize
Source: Roshan; AKND
Reviewed: 01-Mar-07
Afghanistan’s largest company, telecom operator Roshan, and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).
The prize acknowledges the organisations’ unwavering commitment to their country’s reconstruction and development. Since its inception four years ago, Roshan have invested more than $250 million in Afghanistan and developed a comprehensive social program in partnership with AKDN.
“From the start, Roshan has consistently integrated social development with the way we do business by, for instance, expanding coverage to remote areas that may not be economically viable today, creating jobs, or using communications to help improve lives with innovations such as mobile-based money transfer or Telemedicine,” says Roshan chief executive Karim Khoja.
Previous winners of the award include Cisco Systems, GE, Novartis, Pfizer, IBM and Timberland to name just a few. “I am honoured that the unique model implemented by AKDN and Roshan has inspired the CECP to look beyond their standard award categories and specially recognise our innovative model,” commented Khoja.
Roshan’s social program focuses on five main areas: commerce, health, social welfare, education and culture/sport. Initiatives include support for the Disarmament Demobilisation Reintegration Program, helping women in business, the Telemedicine scheme seeking to address the lack of specialist healthcare in Afghanistan, soup kitchens, money-making schemes for women, school building and sport sponsorships for young athletes and events.
Ismailimail 