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The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development announces the award winners for the year 2024. It was jointly awarded to three African researchers in the field of health.

The prize valued at $1,000,000 awarded annually Honors individuals or institutions who help to advance economic and social development, human resources development and infrastructure in Africa.

Kuwait City, 25th August 2025: The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development has announced the winners of the 2024 Al-Sumait Prize in the field of Health, jointly awarded to three distinguished African scientists for their pioneering contributions to the fight against malaria in Africa.

The one million US dollar Prize was shared equally among:

Professor Fred Binka (Ghana), Vice President of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, who conducted groundbreaking early studies on insecticide-treated bed nets. His work led to the adoption of this intervention as one of the most effective malaria prevention methods across Africa. Despite challenges of working in a low-resource environment, his leadership and collaboration with global institutions, including the Wellcome Trust , ensured sustainable impact on malaria control.

A man wearing glasses, a black suit, white shirt, and a colorful patterned tie, posing against a white background.

Professor Richard Idro (Uganda), Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University and Consultant Pediatric Neurologist at Mulago National Referral Hospital, demonstrated the efficacy of chemoprevention (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for patients after discharge from hospital following malaria treatment. Despite working in a resource-constrained environment, he conducted impactful research that has significantly advanced patient care and outcomes in malaria management.

A smiling man in glasses, white shirt, and blue floral tie standing indoors, leaning on a chair.

Professor Halidou Tinto (Burkina Faso), Director of Research in Parasitology and Regional Director of the Institute for Health Sciences Research in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. He led large-scale clinical trials proving the efficacy of two landmark malaria vaccines, RTSS (GSK) and R21 (Oxford University). His leadership advanced Africa’s capacity for vaccine research and implementation despite severe limitations in research infrastructure.

“Winners of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development have advanced world-class research in resource-constrained environments, showing extraordinary resilience and commitment. KFAS is proud to celebrate their leadership in transforming the fight against malaria and improving health outcomes in Africa.”

The Prize, established in honour of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s initiative during the 2013 Arab-African Summit, commemorates the legacy of Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti physician whose life was devoted to humanitarian and development work in Africa. It recognises excellence in Health, Food Security, and Education with a focus on projects and research that deliver lasting change for African communities.

The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development is chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other members of the Board include Mr. Abdulatif Alhamad, former Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and Mr. Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Board also comprises Dr. Kwaku Aning, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Professor Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, and Dr. Jaouad Mahjour, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization in charge of the Emergency Management and Response Program.

Other distinguished members include Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR  , Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and Dr. Ameenah Rajab Farhan, Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

The prize valued at $1,000,000 awarded annually Honors individuals or institutions who help to advance economic and social development, human resources development and infrastructure in Africa.

Kuwait City, May 27th, 2024: The Board of Trustees of the prestigious Al-Sumait Prize for African Development proudly announces CAMFED – The Campaign for Female Education – as the recipient of the 2023 Al-Sumait Prize in the field of education. This esteemed award, chaired by His Excellency, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulah Ali Al-Yaha, acknowledges CAMFED’s outstanding contribution to advancing education across the African continent.

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which oversees the Al-Sumait Prize, commends CAMFED for its relentless pursuit of ensuring that vulnerable girls are not only seen and heard, but also supported to realize their full potential. Recognizing education as a fundamental human right, CAMFED’s initiatives have not only saved lives and alleviated suffering but also upheld the dignity of young girls and women throughout Africa. CAMFED has significantly improved educational opportunities, earning global recognition for their distinguished efforts.

The Foundation explained that through this Prize, which it administers, the State of Kuwait has helped organizations working in Africa to be recognized for their exemplary and impactful projects and programs, in addition to recognizing their dedication to improving the health of communities across various African countries. It noted that the Prize, that year, received 32 nominations from 13 countries.

Under the visionary leadership of CEO Angeline Murimirwa, co-founder of the unique network of leaders and peer mentors educated with CAMFED support, CAMFED is addressing the intersecting challenges of poverty and gender inequality, particularly in rural African communities. Murimirwa, one of the first young women supported to go to secondary school by CAMFED in Zimbabwe, is uniquely positioned to bring the expertise of girls and women once excluded from education to inform policy and strategy at every level. She said, “We are thrilled to be honoured with Kuwait’s Al-Sumait Prize, and to join so many inspirational organizations committed to unlocking Africa’s extraordinary potential. Thank you for shining a spotlight on the power of girls, young women, and their communities, and recognizing that it takes all of us to ensure that every child secures their right to learn, thrive and lead change in this generation.” 

Established in honour of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s noble initiative during the Arab African Summit in 2013, the Al-Sumait Prize pays homage to the legacy of Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti doctor whose life’s work was dedicated to addressing the critical challenges of health, education, and food security in Africa. The Al-Sumait Prize underscores its commitment to advancing economic, social, and human development across the African continent by recognizing exemplary studies, scientific projects, applied research, and initiatives that leave a lasting impact on African communities.

The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development is chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other board members include: Mr. Abdulatif Alhamad, former Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development; Mr. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Kwaku Aning, Chairman of the Governing Board of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Chairman of Ghana Nuclear Energy Institute and former Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Prof. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Dr. Jaouad Mahjour, Assistant Director-General of the of the World Health Organization in charge of the Emergency Management and Response Program; Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations; Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and former Assistant and Regional Secretary-General of the United Nations Development Program in Africa; Mr. Marwan Al Ghanim, Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arabic Economic Development and Dr. Ameenah Farhan, Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

a member of the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support and trained Learner Guide — leads a My Better World life skills and self-development session with secondary students in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Kuwait City 2nd November 2023: The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development announced that Al-Sumait Prize 2022 was jointly awarded to Dr. Catherine Nakalembe and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.

The Board of Trustees of Al-Sumait Prize for African Development, chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, announced that the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Dr. Catherine Nakalembe were joint winners of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development for the year 2022 in the field of food security, in recognition of their distinguished achievements in this vital field on the African continent.

According to the Board of Trustees, the AATF, chaired by Professor Aggrey Ambali, and based in Kenya, won the Prize for its success in enabling small farmers in African countries to obtain and use appropriate agricultural technologies as required to address challenges related to productivity, marketing, climate change resilience and health risks.

The Board added that Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, from Uganda, won the Prize for being a distinguished expert in the field of crop mapping and monitoring, using remote sensing and machine learning techniques. She also leads NASA Harvest Africa program at the University of Maryland, which provides methods and systems to smallholder farmers in Africa, enhancing their skills.

On its part, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which supervises the Prize, stated that AATF, winner of the Prize, has demonstrated a long-term positive impact and introduced innovative programs for many Africans, in addition to its creative response to food security issues and challenges.

KFAS also added that, through this Prize, the State of Kuwait has provided assistance to organizations working in and for Africa to distinguish themselves through their exemplary and effective projects and programs, not to mention their dedication to improving food security for communities across Africa. According to KFAS, the Prize, the current year, received 51 nominations from 22 countries.

The Chief Scientist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and member of the Prize’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, said that the work and research that contribute to enhancing food security, health and education in Africa send a ray of hope in the flux of global crises we are all living through.

Dr. Elouafi,  expressed her congratulations to the winners of the Prize, namely the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, pointing out that developing new innovations and expanding their scope to include small producers in Africa is an essential issue for eliminating hunger and poverty and improving the livelihoods of producers in Africa, adding that the winners contribute to inspiring many individuals and institutions to exert further efforts towards building a better Africa.

It is noteworthy that the annual Al-Sumait Prize for African Development was launched at the noble initiative of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah rest his soul, during the Arab African Summit hosted by Kuwait in 2013. Launching the Prize came in honor of the late Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, the Kuwaiti doctor who devoted his life to address the challenges related to health, education and food security facing Africa.

The Prize aims to recognize and appreciate the best studies, scientific projects, applied research and initiatives that have a significant impact on the advancement of economic, social and human resources and the development of infrastructure on the African continent.

Dr Catherine Nakalembe

Kuwait City, October 10, 2023 – The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) has announced that over 33 nominations from over 10 countries have been received for the 2023 Al-Sumait Prize for African Development in its Education Category, which closed for nominations on the 30th September.


The nominations received comprised of prominent individuals, institutes, organizations and NGO’s working to develop and promote education as a main vehicle to drive socio-economic development in Africa.


The nominee’s dossiers will be reviewed and screened by a panel of experts in Kuwait to ensure that all applicants fulfil the basic requirements of the prize and then a short list of potential laureates will be produced. The final evaluation stage is entrusted to a Selection Panel composed of prominent international experts in the field, which will meet to study the shortlisted cases and reports of the evaluation team they will then recommend winner(s) of the Prize to the Board of Trustees.


The eventual winner(s) of the prize will be selected by the Al-Sumait Board of Trustees, which comprises prominent international personalities in the field of development in Africa and world-renowned philanthropists. The Board is chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

Other trustees include Mr Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Kwaku Aning, Deputy Director General and Head of Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Mr Abdulatif Al- Hamad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.


Announced by the late Amir of the State of Kuwait, H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in November 2013 at the 3rd Arab African Summit, the aim of Al-Sumait Prize is to contribute significantly to solve major development challenges facing African nations. The prize celebrates the life of the late Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti physician who devoted his life towards helping the poor in Africa.

Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 30 2023 – The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) today announced the call for nominations for the 2023 Al Sumait Prize for African Development in Education. The prize, which is worth $1 million, is awarded annually to individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to the advancement of one of three fields, education, health, and food security in Africa.

The Al Sumait Prize is named after the late Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti physician who dedicated his life to helping the poor in Africa. The prize was established in 2015 at the request of the late Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The 2023 Prize area is Education and is to be awarded to individuals or institutions who through their research projects or initiatives have made significant advancement within one or more of the following areas (or other related fields):

  • Improving access to basic education, vocational and training programs, and/or higher education.
  • Improving literacy among all members of society.
  • Decreasing the dependence of children’s education on the socio-economic status of their parents.
  • Innovative approach to education that maximizes resources available (technology).

Eligible candidates include:

  • Organizations and research institutions whose initiatives and programs contributed significantly to solving education challenges in Africa.
  • Outstanding researchers who are nominated by their institutions and peers.

For more information on the prize and how to nominate, please visit the Al Sumait Prize website:

www.alsumaitprize.org/nominations

Koweït, le 10 mars 2022. Les lauréats du cycle 2021 du Prix Al-Sumait pour le Développement africain dans le domaine de la Santé ont été approuvés par le Conseil d’administration du Prix pour leur travail exceptionnel dans le développement de la santé en Afrique.
Le Conseil a déclaré que la décision était d’attribuer le prix d’un million de dollars conjointement à:

Au Dr. John N. Nkengasong, directeur du Centre africain de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (CDC Afrique) qui reçoit le Prix pour son rôle essentiel dans le développement de la réponse de l’Afrique pendant les épidémies et sa prise en charge de la réaction de l’Afrique au Covid-19. Il joue un rôle clé dans la mise à disposition de moyens d’assistance technique pour renforcer la santé publique et les institutions de contrôle des maladies de l’Union africaine. Il a grandement influencé le contrôle du continent sur le Covid-19 et il est à l’origine de programmes clés ayant eu un gros impact sur la réaction de l’Afrique au Covid-19.
Au Centre d’excellence africain pour la génomique des maladies infectieuses (ACEGID), basé au Nigeria, qui reçoit le Prix pour son travail de développement innovant dans le domaine de la génomique des maladies infectieuses, à travers une recherche translationnelle de haute qualité et un renforcement des capacités en Afrique. Le Centre a transformé de manière significative la compréhension de l’évolution des pathogènes, des dynamiques de transmission, et l’application des connaissances génomiques en réaction à une épidémie.
La Fondation du Koweït pour l’avancée des sciences (KFAS) déclare : « Les lauréats, le Dr Nkengasong et l’ACEGID, ont eu un impact positif à grande portée et ont appliqué des programmes innovants dans de nombreuses régions d’Afrique. Ils ont fait preuve de créativité pour réagir aux difficultés et aux défis sanitaires. »
La Fondation, qui administre le Prix, expliquée aussi qu’avec ce Prix, l’État du Koweït souhaite aider les organisations qui travaillent en Afrique ou pour l’Afrique à être reconnues pour leurs projets et programmes exemplaires ainsi que pour leur dévouement envers l’amélioration des conditions de santé dans les communautés de nombreux pays d’Afrique. Il ajoute que cette année, le Prix a reçu 61 nominations de 26 pays différents.
Le Conseil du prix Al-Sumait est présidé par Son Éminence le Cheikh/Dr. Ahmad Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, ministre des Affaires Étrangères et ministre d’État aux Affaires du Cabinet. Les autres membres du conseil incluent : M. Abdulatif Alhamad, ancien directeur général et président des Fonds arabe pour le développement économique et social, Bill Gates, vice-président de la Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, le Dr. Kwaku Aning, président du conseil de direction de la Commission de l’énergie atomique du Ghana, président de l’Institut nucléaire du Ghana et ancien Directeur général adjoint de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique, Professeur Stefania Giannini, sous-directrice générale de l’Éducation, UNESCO, le Dr. Jaouad Mahjour Sous-Directeur général de la Division de la préparation aux situations d’urgence au sein du Programme d’urgence de la WHO, le Dr. Ismahane Elouafi Mahjour, Scientifique en chef de la FAO, M. Abdoulie Janneh, membre du conseil d’administration/directeur exécutif de la Fondation Mo Ibrahim, M. Marwan Al Ghanim, Directeur général, Fonds koweïtien pour le développement économique arabe, et le Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel, directeur général de la Fondation koweïtienne pour l’avancement des sciences (KFAS).

Le Prix Al-Sumait pour le développement de l’Afrique est un prix annuel lancé par le défunt Émir de l’État du Koweit, Son Éminence le Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, lors du troisième Sommet afro-arabe, organisé par l’État du Koweït en 2013. Ce prix porte le nom d’un médecin koweïtien, le regretté Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, qui a consacré sa vie à aider les personnes défavorisées en Afrique dans de nombreux domaines, notamment la santé, la sécurité alimentaire et l’éducation. Le prix vise à reconnaître et à apprécier les meilleures études, projets scientifiques, recherches appliquées et initiatives à fort impact pour l’avancement du développement économique, social, des ressources humaines et des infrastructures sur le continent africain.

Agosto de 2021

As candidaturas ao Prémio Al-Sumait de US$ 1 milhão para o desenvolvimento africano na área da saúde foram encerradas

Cidade do Kuwait, Kuwait, 30 de agosto de 2021 – O Prémio Al-Sumait para o Desenvolvimento Africano, patrocinado pelo Kuwait, concluiu a sua fase de candidaturas para o Prémio de 2021 na área da saúde.  

“Este ano, o prémio reconhece os indivíduos e organizações que têm um foco especial na mitigação das crises sanitárias, como a Covid-19 e o SARS. A pandemia atual mostrou-nos que a crise sanitária tem um impacto desproporcional sobre as populações vulneráveis, por isso, tenho esperança de que o vencedor deste ano será capaz de oferecer soluções novas e inovadoras para os problemas cada vez mais complexos que o continente enfrenta”, afirmou Hassan Damluji, representante do Bill Gates da Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation no Conselho de Assessores.

O Conselho de Assessores, presidido pela Sua Excelência Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohamad Al-Sabah, o Ministério das Relações Exteriores no Kuwait, é composto por influentes especialistas de renome mundial, com ampla experiência e conhecimento no desenvolvimento africano. Recentemente, o Conselho recebeu um novo membro, o Sr. Abdoulie Janneh, diretor executivo da MO Ibrahim Foundation. Anteriormente, o Sr. Janneh atuou como ex-subsecretário geral e secretário executivo da Comissão Económica das Nações Unidas para a África. 

Os vencedores anteriores do Prémio Al-Sumait na área da Saúde foram o Professor Kevin Marsh da Universidade de Oxford e da Academia Africana de Ciências do Quénia pelos seus esforços contínuos para controlar e erradicar a malária; o Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim, diretor do Centro para o Programa de Investigação da SIDA na Universidade de KwaZulu-Natal; a Professora Sheila K. West, vice-presidente de investigação no Wilmer Eye Institute, da Escola de Medicina da Universidade Johns Hopkins; e o Rakai Health Sciences Program.

O Prémio Al-Sumait para o Desenvolvimento Africano, que homenageia indivíduos e/ou instituições que colaboram no avanço do desenvolvimento económico e social, no desenvolvimento de recursos humanos e nas infraestruturas em África, foi criado por iniciativa do falecido emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah. O prémio abrange uma de três categorias todos os anos: Saúde, Segurança Alimentar e Educação, e é administrado pela Fundação do Kuwait para o Avanço das Ciências (KFAS).

O Conselho deverá confirmar o vencedor do Prémio Al-Sumait de 2021 na área da saúde até dezembro deste ano.

Para mais informações sobre o Prémio Al-Sumait para o Desenvolvimento Africano, aceda ao Al Sumait Prize.org Para mais informações, contacte o nosso escritório no seguinte e-mail: [email protected]