Andrew Mude (picture credit: Business Daily)
Even with the Tuesday announcement that he had won the award,
Andrew Mude, who holds a doctorate in economics,
remains a modest man committed to resolving the dilemma
that pastoral communities, especially in northern Kenya,
have endured for decades.
‘When he was named winner of the 2016 World Food Prize’s Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application this week, he could barely hold back his emotions, as the reality of his achievement hit home.
‘The sight of a humble man accepting recognition for years of hard work trying to improve the lives of thousands of people living in the arid and semi-arid parts of the country, brought tears to the eyes of many . . . at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus.
‘Even with the Tuesday announcement that he had won the award, Andrew Mude, who holds a doctorate in economics, remains a modest man committed to resolving the dilemma that pastoral communities, especially in northern Kenya, have endured for decades.
‘Losing livestock to the devastating effects of climate change has seen them move
from being rich on one day and having nothing the next.
‘If my father and mother never educated me, today I would not stand up as the father of this product that now gives hopes to thousands of pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya. I believe education must remain central in anyone’s life but this must be hinged on ability to a viable economic livelihood’, he said in his acceptance speech.
‘. . . He is the second Kenyan to win the prestigious award by the Rockefeller Foundation after Charity Mutegi was recognised in 2013 for her work on control of aflatoxin.
‘The World Food Prize Foundation annually honours individuals under 40 years whose scientific innovation is dedicated to food security.
‘Dr Mude, 39, an agricultural economist, stands tall for front-running the design of the Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) Programme since 2008, just two years after joining ILRI. . . .
‘The programme uses satellite imaging to assess fodder availability and calculates the estimated loss payable during dry seasons. . . .
[W]ith a team of researchers from Cornell University-USAID BASIS Collaborative Research Support Programme [Mude launched] the research into development programme.
‘The payouts to herders in 2014 by Takaful Insurance brought on board other underwriters.
‘The government even launched the Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme (KLIP), based on IBLI that provides coverage to more than 5,000 households.
Last month, the government programme made payouts to 290 herders in Wajir.
‘Perhaps his zeal for helping Northern Kenya came from direct impact of drought he felt over three decades as he visited family in Marsabit, even though his Burji community is more agricultural and entrepreneurial than their nomadic neighbours.
‘The son of a diplomat went to St. Mary’s Nairobi until he was in Class Three and thereafter all over the world, having to change schools every three years, moving with his father from one mission to another.
‘This, he said, made him diplomatic in implementing the product at the grassroots by appreciating varied cultural backgrounds.
‘His determination to do better hit him when he graduated summa cum laude with a major in Economics from Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, in 1999.
‘In the year 2000, he joined Cornell University in New York to pursue a doctorate in economics with a concentration in development economics and applied econometrics.
‘He returned to Kenya in June 2006 after graduating and he found a job at ILRI, where he worked with his wife Brenda until recently when she moved to the Kenya Market Trust. . . .
‘He travels to Des Moines, Iowa in October to receive the award, which comes with Sh1 million cash prize. . . .
‘“The focus now is to scale up the project. Ethiopia is set to take it up soon . . . .’
Read the whole article by James Kariuki in Business Daily (Kenya): Food prize puts Kenyan researcher on global map, 2 Sep 2016.
More information
More information will be posted here soon. To view a film of the whole event, go to http://www.ilri.org/livestream
Photographs of the event are on ILRI’s Flickr album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilri/albums/72157669992212163
View the original press release, by Nicole Barreca, from the World Food Prize Foundation, here: http://www.worldfoodprize.org/index.cfm/24667/39777/the_world_food_prize_recognizes_kenyan_economist
More news reports of the Borlaug Field Award announcement on 30 Aug 2016
Kenyan scientist wins world top prize for food research
http://www.the-star.co.ke | Agatha Ngotho | 09/01/2016
A Kenyan scientist was yesterday awarded a world prize for food research. Dr Andrew Mude (pictured) was announced the winner of the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application at the International Livestock Research Institute headquarters, Nairobi. He will receive Sh1 million next month during the World Food Prize international symposium in Iowa,…
Kenya close to ending drought crises, says local scientist award winner
sde.co.ke Standard Digital | 08/31/2016
Kenya is on its way to breaking the devastating cycle of drought, poverty and hunger over the next decade, a leading scientist said as he was named winner of a prestigious award. Kenyan scientist Andrew Mude won the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application on Tuesday for developing livestock insurance, using state-of-the-art…
Kenyan Adjudged Winner of 2016 Norman Borlaug Award
http://www.newsghana.com.gh | Samuel Hinneh | 08/31/2016
Dr Andrew Mude developed insurance for never-before-insured communities whose livelihoods depend on herding cattle, goats, sheep and camels in the remote, arid and drought-prone lowlands of the Horn of Africa.
Kenyan economist Andrew Mude wins the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application
news.ilri.org | Susan MacMillan | 08/31/2016
It was announced yesterday (30 Aug 2016) in Nairobi, Kenya, that Andrew Mude has won the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application. Mude’s is developing insurance for never-before-insured communities whose livelihoods depend on herding cattle, goats, sheep and camels in the remote, arid and drought-prone lowlands of the Horn of Africa. He…
Kenyan Scientist Receives the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award- Crop Biotech Update ( 8/31/2016 )
http://www.isaaa.org | 08/31/2016
Dr. Andrew Mude, a young Kenyan scientist, is the winner of the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation. The award recognizes exceptional, science-based achievement in agriculture and food production by individuals under 40 who demonstrate intellectual courage, stamina, and determination in the fight to eliminate global hunger…
Kenyan wins global award for livestock innovation (video)
ntv.nation.co.ke | 08/31/2016
Video news clip
Pastoralists received Sh15M compensation following last year’s drought – CS
http://www.hivisasa.com — Garissa News | Joshua Khisa | 08/31/2016
Close to 12,000 households in the arid and semi-arid areas across the country have insured their livestock. Those who insured their livestock are already enjoying the benefits of the product as according to Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu, 5,012 pastoralists who insured their animals last year received Sh15 million compensation after their region suffered drought leading…
Kenyan Researcher Receives Named 2016 Borlaug Field Award Winner
http://www.agrimarketing.com | 08/31/2016
Dr. Andrew Mude was announced today as the winner of the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, for his work in developing insurance for never-before-insured communities whose livelihoods depend on herding cattle, goats, sheep and camels in the remote, arid and drought-prone lowlands of the Horn of…
Kenyan scientist Dr. Andrew Mude wins the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research – Potentash
http://www.potentash.com | Susan Mukami | 08/31/2016
In most parts of the Horn of Africa, drought, crop and livestock disease threaten food production; and the fact that livestock provides an essential source of protein and is an irreplaceable income to almost 1 billion poor people, more needs to be done to protect this precious resource.
Speeches | Nairobi, Kenya – Embassy of the United States
nairobi.usembassy.gov | Robert Godec | 08/30/2016
Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu, Dr. Andrew Mude, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, hamjambo. Habari zenu? Thank you for inviting me here today. It’s always rewarding to spend time talking with and learning from researchers who are passionate about their disciplines.
Ilmuwan Kenya Kembangkan Asuransi Ternak Atasi Krisis Kekeringan
http://www.mirajnews.com | Rudi Hendrik | 08/30/2016
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Kenya close to ending drought crises, says local scientist award winner
http://www.reuters.com | Katy Migiro | 08/30/2016
Kenyan Wins 2016 Norman Borlaug Award For Field Research And Application
newsimg.bbc.co.uk — Ghana Star | James Ayitey | 08/30/2016
Article published in the Ghana Star
How NASA satellites save Kenya’s nomads from bankruptcy during drought (seriously)
http://www.jinamoore.com | Jina Moore | 08/30/2016
Brenda Wandera’s iPhone buzzes in her lap. A text message has made its way through the blurry heat of Kenya’s Chalbi Desert, and it changes her next move. “As soon as we get to Kalacha, we have to go to Network,” she says.
Kenya to extend livestock insurance to 14 counties
http://www.nation.co.ke | James Kariuki | 08/30/2016
The government will roll out a livestock insurance to all fourteen arid and semi-arid counties to help safeguard cattle during drought. Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu said the uptake of the product had hit 11,800 households with an insured premium of Sh 5.3 billion since the beginning of the year.
Kenya close to ending drought crises, says local scientist award winner
sports.yahoo.com | Katy Migiro | 08/30/2016
By Katy Migiro NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Kenya is on its way to breaking the devastating cycle of drought, poverty and hunger over the next decade, a leading scientist said as he was named winner of a prestigious award.
Kenya close to ending drought – scientist
citizentv.co.ke | 08/30/2016
Published on 30 August 2016 Kenya is on its way to breaking the devastating cycle of drought, poverty and hunger over the next decade, a leading scientist said as he was named winner of a prestigious award.
Kenya to extend livestock insurance to 14 counties
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com | James Kariuki | 08/30/2016
A boy herds cattle. FILE By JAMES KARIUKI @kamaukariuki_ jkariuki@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Tuesday, August 30 2016 at 16:04 The government will roll out livestock insurance to all 14 arid and semi-arid counties to help safeguard cattle during drought.
Kenyan economist wins World Food Prize’s Borlaug award
http://www.desmoinesregister.com | Kelly McGowan | 08/30/2016
Andrew Mude(Photo: World Food Prize/Special to the Register) Andrew Mude, a researcher and economist dealing in international livestock, was named winner of the World Food Prize’s Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application.
Kenya close to ending drought crises, says local scientist award winner
uk.businessinsider.com | Katy Migiro | 08/30/2016
A Kenyan soldier from the Rapid Deployment Unit looks at a cow which is dying from hunger, a few hundred meters from the official boundary of the Kenya-Ethiopia border in northwestern Kenya Thomson Reuters
The World Food Prize Recognizes Kenyan Economist as Winner of the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation
http://www.worldfoodprize.org | Nicole Barreca | 08/30/2016
08/30/2016 Press Contact: Nicole Barreca, Director of Communications and Events515.245.3735 (direct), 563.271.2995 (cell), or nbarreca@worldfoodprize.org The World Food Prize Recognizes Kenyan Economist as Winner of the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation
Andrew Mude: 2016 recipient of the Borlaug Field Award
http://www.worldfoodprize.org | 08/30/2016
Andrew Mude KENYA Andrew Mude, a senior economist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, was named the 2016 recipient of the “Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation.” The announcement of his selection was made by Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize…
Kenyan Wins 2016 Norman Borlaug Award For Field Research And Application
http://www.modernghana.com | Samuel Hinneh | 08/30/2016
A Kenyan research scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute based in Nairobi has won the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application for his work in providing insurance to livestock herders in East Africa’s drylands through innovative, state-of-the art technologies.
ILRI Clippings 
