In memory of professor Dr. Hans P. Binswanger-Mkhize, Agroeconomist, 1943-2017

Our Review Panel member professor Dr. Hans P. Binswanger-Mkhize passed away in Pretoria on 4th August 2017. His legacy as an engaged global citizen and professional remains with those who lived and worked with him.

In 2013, at the age of 70, professor Dr. Hans P. Binswanger-Mkhize accepted to be a Review Panel member of the thematic module Food Security in the then newly established r4d programme, jointly funded by SDC and SNSF.

He was actively involved
in the selection of the five large international research partnership projects that
started in 2015.
With his experience, his expertise, his
sharp mind and his clear positions he assumed an important as well as special
role, both in the evaluation and the monitoring of the new research projects.
His contributions were “uncomfortable” and triggered many and long
discussions within the Review Panel as well as with the researchers – the kind
of discussions that deserve and require room and deep thinking.

In August 2016, Hans participated as an assigned panel member to the r4d project "Towards Food Sustainability: Reshaping the Coexistence of Different Food Systems in South America and Africa" in a site visit in Bolivia. The full Review Panel and the researchers were looking forward to seeing him again in Bern in the beginning of September 2017 for the mid-term evaluation of the five projects. Hans passed away unexpectedly shortly before this meeting.

His legacy as an engaged global citizen and professional is accessible now on a new website: https://www.hansbinswangermkhize.com/ External Link Icon

Our thoughts are with his husband, family and friends.

Picture: Hans Binswanger-Mkhize was a good listener and critical mentor; intense discussion with r4d programme researchers and a former colleague from the World Bank, Ian Johnson, during the r4d Forum 2015 Food Security and Ecosystems, Switzerland, March 2015.