The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) deeply mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter, one of its esteemed co-founders. At the remarkable age of 100, President Carter leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the fight against hunger, human rights and the promotion of global peace.

In 1985, as the Horn of Africa faced a devastating hunger crisis, President Carter joined Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa and Dr. Norman Borlaug to establish the Sasakawa Africa Initiative. This pioneering collaboration, which later evolved into Sasakawa Global 2000 under the Sasakawa Africa Association, united three visionary leaders: President Carter’s global political influence and ability to foster cooperation, Dr. Borlaug’s pioneering agricultural expertise, and Mr. Sasakawa’s philanthropic leadership and financial support through The Nippon Foundation.

President Carter’s contributions transcended high-level diplomacy. He walked into rural villages, listened to farmers, and connected directly with the people he sought to uplift. His humility and clear understanding of what could be achieved made his involvement deeply meaningful and profoundly impactful.

The accompanying photo captures one defining moment of President Carter’s legacy with SAA: his visit to Ethiopia, where he introduced Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to SAA’s demonstration plots. These plots illustrated how improved agricultural technologies could empower farmers and boost productivity. Inspired by this model, Ethiopia adopted the demonstration plots as a cornerstone of its national agricultural extension strategy, achieving significant strides in food security and agricultural development.

The shared vision and determination of President Carter, Mr. Sasakawa, and Dr. Borlaug brought the Sasakawa Africa Association to life. Their efforts continue to inspire our mission of empowering smallholder farmers and improving livelihoods across Africa.

As we honor President Carter’s remarkable life and contributions, we reaffirm our commitment to building on this legacy and vision, walking alongside farmers to achieve more sustainable and resilient food systems in Africa.

On behalf of the Sasakawa Africa Association, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family and to all who were inspired by his leadership.

May his great soul rest in peace.

Dr. Amit Roy
Chair, Sasakawa Africa Association

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