Andrew Mude is a leading professional with over fifteen years of expertise in science, research management, and development. As the Lead for Agri-SME Development and Innovative Finance at the African Development Bank (AfDB), he plays a pivotal role in addressing the significant financing gap faced by the Small and Medium Enterprises and the producers that support Africa’s agri-food systems. Andrew spearheads the Bank’s Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA), aiming to mobilize $1 billion in concessionary, high-risk capital and grants. This initiative seeks to de-risk private sector investments and scale insurance solutions that enhance resilience and adaptation in the agricultural sector.
Prior to his tenure at the AfDB, Andrew was at the helm of the Dryland Innovations team at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as a Principal Economist. His leadership was instrumental in the development, evaluation, and scaling of the award-winning index-based livestock insurance program, which offers vital protection to vulnerable herders against agro-climatic variability.
Andrew earned his Ph.D. in Economic Development from Cornell University and a mid-career fellowship in Sustainability Science from Harvard University. His extensive research has been featured in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and he has edited several books. His contributions to the field have been recognized with the 2016 World Food Prize’s Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, recognizing exceptional, science-based achievements in international agriculture and food production by an individual under 40.