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The World Bank and CORAF have announced the creation of an award in memory of one of Africa's greatest champions of agricultural research and development.

Abdoulaye Touré died at the age of 64 while serving as Chief Agricultural Economist at the World Bank and team leader of one of the Bank's largest investments in West Africa.

At a ceremony to honor Touré held at the World Bank's office in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on Wednesday November 20, 2019, the two institutions announced their intention to create an annual award in recognition of the best innovations.

Touré spent most of the last ten years of his career at the World Bank, heading the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP). Over 230 technologies have been developed under this program. These technologies have helped to increase crop yields(30% for dry cereals and 150% for rice, fruits and tubers). Some 1,031 students were trained in post-graduate studies. Nine million people have benefited directly from the PPAAO, and around 56 million indirectly.

"The award is designed to support its work in promoting innovations that have made a substantial contribution to lifting millions of smallholder farmers out of poverty over the past decade," said World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Development in Africa, Mr. Simeon Ehui.

As part of the governance of the WAPP, CORAF has been entrusted with the regional coordination of the project. In this role, CORAF contributed considerably to the movement of technologies from one country to another. In all, some one hundred technologies were circulated in West Africa during the course of the project.

"Abdoulaye was a great believer in innovation. His primary vision was to ensure that technologies translated into improved livelihoods for the poor. There is no better way to support his work and vision than to establish an award that would further stimulate scientific discovery to advance our food and nutrition security goals," said Dr Adou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.

Abdoulaye Touré was born on November 2, 1955 in Côte d'Ivoire. He joined the World Bank Group in 1992. Between 2000 and 2005, he left the Bank to join the International Fund for Agricultural Development, where he helped a number of West African countries draw up their strategic plans.