Des Moines, Iowa (BBN)-Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a nonprofit organisation in Bangladesh, has won the World Food Prize 2015.
The 79-year-old Abed will receive the award and $250,000 in prize money at an October ceremony.
Abed is credited with helping more than 150 million people out of poverty in Bangladesh.
Iowa-based foundation Des Moines announced the award on Wednesday at the State Department in Washington.
World Food Prize President Kenneth Quinn said the ability of Abed, who was knighted in London in February 2010, to successfully transition BRAC it into a global relief organisation was the key to his win.
BRAC has spearheaded efforts to reduce infant mortality, educate children, empower women and fund microloan programs and other assistance to help lift the poor out of poverty.
The programs created for Bangladesh have expanded to 10 other nations.
It helped Bangladesh to recover from the 1970 typhoon that killed about 500,000 people and the subsequent war fought in 1971 to win independence from Pakistan. Bangladesh was once listed as the second poorest country in the world.
The World Food Prize was created by Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 to recognize scientists and others who have improved the quality and availability of food. The foundation that awards the $250,000 prize is based in Des Moines, Iowa.
BBN/AI