Markets could not flourish without a strong underlying moral culture,animated by empathy and fellow-feeling, by our ability to understand our common bond as human beings and to recognize the needs of others. Adam Smith
Award Committee
GRAMEEN BANK FOUNDER AND WINNER OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2006
In 2006 Mohammad Yunus and the bank he founded, Grameen Bank, won the Nobel Peace Prize for “for their efforts to create economic and social benefit from below.” Grameen Bank was established in the belief that credit is a fundamental human right and with the objective to help poor people escape from poverty by providing loans on terms suitable to them. Replicas of the Grameen Bank model currently operate in more than 100 countries worldwide.
GREEN BELT MOVEMENT FOUNDER AND WINNER OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2004
We were greatly saddened to learn of the untimely death of Wangari Maathai. Her efforts to the benefit of mankind will be long remebered, and the movement she founded will continue its important work, bringing hope to the lives of millions. Wangari Maathai’s support for our foundation has been significant and we will always remain grateful for her contribution. Dr. Wangari Maathai is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, a non-profit, grassroots non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kenya. Dr. Wangari and the GBM was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for ”their contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace”.
WINNER OF THE SVERIGES RIKSBANKS PRIZE IN ECONOMIC SCIENCES IN MEMORY OF ALFRED NOBEL 2001
A. Michael Spence is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He is the chairman of an independent Commission on Growth and Development, created in 2006 and focused on growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.