Fundacao Focus Assistencia Humanitaria Europa

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £3.3 million (2024)
• Grant Distribution: £2.5 million (77% of expenditure)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (internal network distribution)
• Grant Range: Varies - primarily to AKDN partner organizations
• Geographic Focus: Afghanistan and Portugal (with broader international reach through network)

Contact Details

Address: The Ismaili Centre, 1 Cromwell Gardens, London SW7 2SL

Website: www.focus-europe.org

Email: focus.europe@focusha.org

Phone: 020 7590 5499

Overview

FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe was established in 1994 by the Ismaili Community under the guidance of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. The foundation is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1054174) and operates as an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). With annual income of £3.3 million, FOCUS Europe dedicates the majority of its resources (77%) to grant-making, distributing £2.5 million to partner organizations within the AKDN network in 2024.

The organization's mission is to save lives, reduce suffering, and create resilience in communities prone to man-made or natural disasters. FOCUS operates across Central and South Asia, Europe, and North America, combining both grant-making activities and direct humanitarian operations. As an AKDN affiliate, FOCUS works in close collaboration with other network agencies including the Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, and various international partners such as UNHCR, World Food Programme, and Red Cross.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Focus

FOCUS Europe primarily provides grants to organizations within the Aga Khan Development Network to support:

• Emergency Relief and Disaster Response: Funding for immediate humanitarian assistance following natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, avalanches, landslides, cyclones, hurricanes, wildfires) and man-made crises
• Disaster Risk Reduction: Programs that strengthen community resilience and preparedness before disasters strike
• Refugee and IDP Assistance: Support for displaced persons, resettlement programs, and integration services
• Operational Strengthening: Capacity building for partner organizations delivering humanitarian services

Recent grant recipients have included Aga Khan Foundation Canada ($3.0 million in 2022) and Aga Khan Foundation Geneva ($657,000 in 2022), demonstrating their focus on supporting network partners.

Priority Areas

• Relief of human suffering, sickness, and distress through provision of medical care, medicines, food, and shelter
• Post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation services
• Resettlement and integration programs for displaced populations
• Community-based disaster preparedness and prevention initiatives
• Support for vulnerable communities in developing regions
• Advancement of public education related to disaster risk management

Geographic Priorities

• Primary Focus: Afghanistan and Portugal
• Broader Network: Central and South Asia, Europe, and North America
• Recent work includes resettling approximately 200 Afghan migrants from refugee camps in Greece to Portugal since winter 2021, with support for an additional 150 migrants

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Governance and Leadership

FOCUS Europe is governed by a Board of 7 trustees, all appointed in September 2023. The organization maintains a lean operational structure with 14 employees and 4 volunteers. Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring resources are directed toward humanitarian objectives.

The organization's global network includes regional offices, with leadership structures varying by location. FOCUS USA's board, for example, includes Amin Kassam as Chair and Sophia Assani as Vice Chair and Executive Officer.

How to Apply to Fundacao Focus Assistencia Humanitaria Europa

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe does not have a public application process.

This organization operates as part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and makes grants primarily to other agencies and partners within this network. Grant decisions are made through internal network coordination rather than through competitive public applications. The foundation's grant-making supports the broader AKDN strategy of addressing humanitarian needs through collaborative work among affiliated agencies.

Organizations seeking funding for humanitarian work in FOCUS's areas of operation should:

1. Explore AKDN Partnerships: Contact other Aga Khan Development Network agencies that may have their own grant programs with public application processes, such as the Aga Khan Foundation
2. Direct Operational Partnerships: Engage with FOCUS as a potential operational partner for humanitarian response, rather than as a grant recipient
3. Emergency Response Networks: Build relationships within international humanitarian response networks where FOCUS is active (UNHCR, World Food Programme, Red Cross)

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions are made through internal network governance processes. As grants flow between AKDN agencies to support coordinated humanitarian responses, timelines are driven by operational needs rather than fixed application cycles.

Application Success Factors

While FOCUS Europe does not accept external applications, understanding their approach provides insight into the humanitarian sector:

Network Coordination Approach

• FOCUS functions as part of an integrated development network, with grants supporting collaborative responses to humanitarian crises
• Their vision is to operate as “a seamless world-class community-based emergency humanitarian assistance organisation”
• Grant-making supports both immediate disaster response and long-term resilience building

Operational Focus Areas

Organizations working in FOCUS's areas of interest might position themselves for partnership by:

• Demonstrating capacity in disaster risk reduction and emergency response
• Working in their priority geographies (Afghanistan, Portugal, Central and South Asia)
• Focusing on refugee resettlement and integration, particularly for Afghan displaced persons
• Building community-based approaches that facilitate transition from humanitarian aid to sustainable, self-reliant development

Collaborative Working

FOCUS partners extensively with:

• AKDN agencies (Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Aga Khan Health Services)
• UN agencies (UNHCR, World Food Programme)
• International humanitarian organizations (Red Cross, other NGOs)
• Government agencies and donor partners
• Corporations sharing interests in disaster relief

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Open for Public Applications: FOCUS Europe does not operate a competitive grant program open to external organizations. Their grant-making supports internal AKDN network coordination.

• Part of Larger Network: Understanding the structure of the Aga Khan Development Network is essential - organizations might find grant opportunities with other AKDN agencies like the Aga Khan Foundation, which does have some grant programs for external organizations.

• Dual Operating Model: While FOCUS makes substantial grants (£2.5m annually), they also operate direct humanitarian programs. Partnership opportunities may exist for operational collaboration rather than grant funding.

• Significant Resources: With 77% of their £3.3 million budget going to grants, FOCUS is a significant funder within the humanitarian sector, though access is limited to network partners.

• Disaster Response Focus: Their work concentrates on disaster preparedness, emergency relief, recovery, and resettlement - organizations working in these areas should understand FOCUS's role in the broader humanitarian ecosystem.

• Geographic Specificity: Current UK charity operations focus on Afghanistan and Portugal, particularly supporting Afghan refugee resettlement in Portugal through their Portugal Settlement Programme.

• Values-Based Mission: Founded by the Ismaili Community under the guidance of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, FOCUS operates without restrictions based on “race, religion, creed, sex, age or country of origin,” serving “the general public/mankind.”

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Christian Aid
• Belron Ronnie Lubner Charitable Foundation
• The Zahra Trust
• Aga Khan Foundation (united Kingdom)
• The Claude And Sofia Marion Foundation
• Muslim Hands
• The Monsoon Accessorize Trust
• Children On The Edge
• Catholic Agency For Overseas Development
• The Pendle Foundation

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, FUNDACAO FOCUS ASSISTENCIA HUMANITARIA EUROPA, Charity Number 1054174: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1054174/full-print
• FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe official website: https://www.focus-europe.org/en/
• FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Canada financial data (2022), Charity Intelligence Canada: https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/844-focus-humanitarian-assistance
• Aga Khan Development Network information: https://www.akdn.org
• The.Ismaili UK, “FOCUS Families – meet the migrants from Afghanistan who are building new lives for themselves in Portugal,”: https://the.ismaili/uk/community/focus-families
• UK Companies House, Company Number FC019123: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/FC019123