Kuwait Launches Initiative to Advance Food Security, Health and Education Development Across Africa

Kuwait City, Kuwait (ots/PRNewswire) -

Kuwait today launched a major initiative to spur sustainable
development across Africa with an annual prize recognizing the best
research or development advances in food security, health and
education that contribute to significantly solving development
challenges facing African nations.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151207/293811 )

Named the 'Al-Sumait Prizes' after the late Dr. Abdulrahman
Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti physician who devoted his life to helping the
poor in Africa, the initiative was endorsed at the first meeting of
the Al-Sumait Board of Trustees in Kuwait.

Each prize will encompass a sum of one million US dollars, a gold
medal and a certificate of recognition to be awarded annually to
individuals or institutions achieving a significant advance.

The Board comprises prominent personalities in the field of
development in Africa and renowned philanthropists, including H.E.
Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Mr. Bill
Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Dr.
Donald Kaberuka, Former President of the African Development Bank.

Commenting, H.E. Sheikh Sabah said the main objective of the
Al-Sumait prize is to promote positive change across Africa, which
stems from Kuwait's goal to raise 'the level of Afro-Arab cooperation
at all levels, especially in humanitarian, development and economic
fields'.

Bill Gates, speaking in Kuwait, said: "Though I never met him,
I've learned through my involvement in the prize about the
extraordinary life of the late Dr. Abdulrahman Al Sumait and how he
truly embodies Kuwait's tradition of generosity and concern for
people in need. Through the Al-Sumait Prize, we will celebrate his
life, not just by celebrating his achievements, but also by
discovering the next generation of innovations that will shape a
healthier and more prosperous future for Africa and lift millions out
of poverty."

Dr. Donald Kaberuka said: "Al-Sumait Prize is a recognition and
reward for excellence in human development in Education, Health and
Food Security."

The Al-Sumait Prize Secretariat - the Kuwait Foundation for the
Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) - said the 2015 prize would encompass
'Health', while the 2016 prize will be awarded for 'Food Security'.
Both prizes will be presented to winners at a ceremony during the 4th
Arab African Summit in Equatorial Guinea, November 2016.

Application forms are available on http://oe.kfas.org.kw/alsumait

For more information visit http://www.alsumaitprize.org, or
contact

Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) P. (+965)
22270465 E. info@alsumaitprize.org

ots Originaltext: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
David Noble
P: +44-7785-302-694
E. Press@alsumaitprize.org