Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh, social enterprise visionary and founder of BRAC was announced yesterday as the 2015 winner of the World Food Prize, the most prominent global award for individuals whose breakthrough achievements alleviate hunger and promote global food security.
The World Food Prize Foundation – with whom Farming First partnering to make the announcement public – is awarding the $250,000 prize to Sir Fazle for the progress he has made in improving people’s lives, alleviating hunger, and providing pathways out of poverty for up to 150 million people across Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
BRAC, which was formally known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, has been hailed as the most effective anti-poverty organization in the world. Today BRAC operates 18 financially and socially profitable enterprises, across health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, education, green energy, printing and retail sectors, and has been responsible for extraordinary advancements in the poultry, seed, and dairy industries in Bangladesh and other countries.
As part of its partnership, Farming First has been working with the World Food Prize team to promote Sir Fazle’s selection and celebrate BRAC’s outstanding contribution to global food security in the media. We are happy to have secured a number of articles in a variety of publications. Read more about Sir Fazle’s work and how BRAC has helped lead a generation out of poverty:
The Guardian – BRAC’s Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins 2015 World Food Prize for reducing poverty
New York Times – Bangladesh based poverty group founder wins World Food Prize
BBC Online – Anti-poverty pioneer wins 2015 World Food Prize
USA Today – World Food Prize goes to founder of anti-poverty group
Thomson Reuters – Prize for man who lead a generation out of poverty in Bangladesh
Sir Fazle will be presented with the prestigious World Food Prize at a three-day symposium, known as the Borlaug Dialogue, which will take place in Des Moines, Iowa in October. Stay tuned to the Farming First blog and social media channels, as we will be hosting guest blogs and a Twitter Chat involving BRAC and the World Food Prize Foundation.