Food for All Africa has been named one of the distinguished winners of the prestigious Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize for 2026, earning an award of $150,000 to support its mission of combating food waste and hunger across Ghana.
Selected from over 300 organizations worldwide, Food for All Africa was recognized for its pioneering work as West Africa’s first and largest circular food bank. The organization rescues surplus edible food and redistributes it to vulnerable communities, while also converting inedible organic waste into valuable resources such as black soldier fly larvae for animal feed and organic fertilizer, advancing innovative circular economy solutions.
The 2026 Grand Prize was awarded to Kheyti, which received $250,000 for its climate-smart agricultural solutions for smallholder farmers. Fellow winner Barefoot College International also received $150,000 alongside Food for All Africa.
All winners were celebrated at the 15th annual Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony held on April 16, 2026, at the Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.
Speaking on the recognition, Board Chairman of Food for All Africa, Enoch Aryee-Atta, noted that the award affirms the organization’s commitment to building resilient food systems in Ghana. He added that the funding will support the expansion of its food recovery operations, LunchBox School Feeding Central Kitchen Project, logistics infrastructure, and waste-to-value initiatives, helping to reach more underserved communities nationwide.
Lipman Prize Director Euria Min commented:
“Food for All Africa represents the kind of locally grounded, high-impact innovation the Prize seeks to elevate. Their work demonstrates how addressing food waste can simultaneously tackle hunger, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity.”
In addition to the financial award, all three winners will benefit from executive education and strategic support from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. These include access to a global network of changemakers, research support, and leadership development opportunities designed to scale impact.
About the Lipman Family Prize
First awarded in 2012, the Lipman Family Prize is a global award that recognizes innovative organizations addressing pressing social and environmental challenges. Administered by the Wharton School, the Prize connects emerging leaders with the resources, networks, and knowledge needed to expand their impact worldwide.
About Food for All Africa
Food for All Africa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger and food waste. Through strategic partnerships with farms, manufacturers, and retailers, the organization rescues surplus food and redistributes it to communities in need while promoting sustainable and circular food systems.
