The KfW Research Prize
Applied Development Research
(From left to right): KfW CEO Dr Ulrich Schröder with 2011 prizewinners Prof Matin Quaim, Dr Patrick Sakdapolrak, Dr Krisztina Kis-Katos and Prof Benedikt Korf, together with the chairman of the selection committee Prof Stephan Klasen, PhD. Source: Jan Zappner
To promote dialogue between science and development practice KfW Entwicklungsbank founded the "KfW Prize for Excellence in Applied Development Research" in 2010. Invitations to submit entries are organised by KfW in conjunction with the Research Committee on Development Economics of the "Verein für Socialpolitik" (German Economic Association). The chairman of that body convenes a multidisciplinary award committee. The award ceremony takes place during the annual conference of the Research Committee on Development Economics that is usually held in June. In June 2010 five young academics were the first to receive this recognition for their work.
The award honours research studies that combine a high scientific standard with practical relevance, and thereby have the potential to provide the development practice with a fresh impetus. The prize is awarded in two categories:
- The Prize for Young Researchers is presented for up to three doctoral theses; it carries an award of up to 5,000 euros.
- The Prize for Excellence is granted in recognition of an outstanding publication in a respected professional journal; it carries an award of 5,000 euros.
The KfW Research Prize is open to studies on any topic. It is awarded for development research work anywhere within the social science domain. Innovative and interdisciplinary submissions are welcome, as are unorthodox critical analyses that contribute to improving development policy.
The 2011 Prize for Excellence
This year the Prize for Excellence went to the agroeconomist Matin Quaim (University of Göttingen) and the geographer Benedikt Korf /(ETH Zürich). In his study Quaim shows how genetically modified seedcorn can significantly raise the income of poor smallholders in India and improve child nutrition. Korf examines the role of local hierarchies in the distribution of relief goods following the tsunami in Sri Lanka. The findings show that knowing about these hierarchies and taking them into account is very important for aid organisations in order to ensure effective aid.
The 2011 Prize for Young Researchers
The Prize for Young Researchers (carrying a total endowment of 9,500 euros) went to Krisztina Kis-Katos (University of Freiburg), Patrick Sakdapolrak (University of Bonn) and James Rao (University of Göttingen, ILRI). In her work Kis-Katos examines the impact of trade liberalisation on child labour. Sakdapolrak deals with the lack of acceptance of free health care services among slum-dwellers in India, and Rao analyses how smallholders in Kenya can benefit from the local expansion of supermarket chains.
Last updated: July 2011
