Malawi’s First Female President to Speak at World Food Prize

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Press Contact:
Nicole Barreca, Director of Communications and Events
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Malawi’s First Female President to Speak at World Food Prize

Des Moines, Iowa (October 13, 2015) - The World Food Prize announced Monday that Her Excellency, Mrs. Joyce Banda, Former President of the Republic of Malawi, will speak at the 2015 Borlaug Dialogue.

President Banda, Malawi’s first female President and Africa’s Second Female Head of State, served as President of the Republic of Malawi from 2012 to 2014.

President Banda, a champion for social justice and equality, is recognized globally for her leadership and commitment to empowering women and youth through entrepreneurship and education.

In 1997, she established the Joyce Banda Foundation, which delivers integrated rural development services to over 300,000 resource poor beneficiaries. The Foundation’s array of programs provide support for early childhood development, education, maternal health and safe motherhood, food and nutrition security, agricultural development, water and sanitation and women’s leadership.

Her Excellency also serves as an advisor to the Community for Zero Hunger, a multi-sectoral global initiative in response to the UN Zero Hunger Challenge.  She recognizes that hunger and malnutrition are among the greatest injustices of our time, and require deliberate action involving all sectors.

"We cannot speak of progress until we have addressed the grave tragedy of hunger and malnutrition," said Banda.  "No mother should ever have to experience the desperation of putting a hungry child to bed.  No father should ever have to wonder where the next meal for his family will come from. No child should ever have to die of hunger.  One death from hunger is one death too many."

President Banda will speak at 10:00 a.m. CT, Thursday morning October 15 at the Borlaug Dialogue, in a panel discussion moderated by 2009 World Food Prize laureate Gebisa Ejeta, entitled “Voices from the Farm.”

"I am humbled by the opportunity to attend the Borl ‘aug Dialogue," said Banda.  "Being in Des Moines, with so many inspiring global leaders, who have dedicated their lives to empowering women, supporting youth, and ensuring that every person has food, nutrition, health and income, gives me great hope that a better future for all will be achieved."

ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE:  The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the World Food Prize has honored 41 outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions throughout the world. The World Food Prize annually hosts the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium and a variety of youth education programs to help further the discussion on cutting-edge global food security issues and inspire the next generation to end hunger. Press credentials for covering the October World Food Prize Week of events can be requested at www.worldfoodprize.org/press.

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