Africa Harvest CEO, Dr. Florence Wambugu, has dedicated part of the proceedings from the Yara Award “to support women groups develop capacity building in value-addition and processing to expand rural enterprises and create jobs.”
 
Dr. Wambugu won the coveted Yara Award together with Victor Mfinanga, Founder and Managing Director of Shambani Graduates Enterprises in Tanzania.  The award is given by the Yara International in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).  According to organizers, the 2008 Yara Prize recognized “two Africans’ dedication to improve food security and develop sustainable value chains”
 
After receiving here award, Dr. Wambugu, in her acceptance speech said “the award is a strong motivation and reminder that there are still millions of smallholder farmers waiting to be reached.”  She called on development partners to create a sense of urgency in reaching the poorest in Africa by scaling up successful models.
 
She dedicated the award to her late mother, Elizabeth Wangui, “and many other mothers who have helped their girl-child realize their dreams.”
 
She said the Africa Harvest smallholder farmers and grassroot community groups shared in the prize for “believing that together, we can make a difference in tackling hunger and poverty at grassroot level.”