The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) mourns the passing of international agricultural economist and rural development expert Uma Lele, on July 28, 2025.
Dr. Lele was a close and valued collaborator and friend of IFPRI for more than 40 years. She contributed critical research and recommendations related to rural transformation, capacity building, global public policies, and effective investment. The wisdom gained from her experiences across the development sector can be found in lauded works such as, Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture, published by Oxford University Press in 2021. The book analyzes the structure, coordination, and management of the most prominent international organizations tackling problems in food and agriculture and was featured in an IFPRI book launch for Food for All. The first woman in the history of Cornell University to be awarded a PhD in agricultural economics, Dr. Lele is also known for her efforts to promote women in the discipline of agricultural economics. Notably, she established the Best Research on Gender in Agriculture at the International Agricultural Economic Association (IAEA) and the Uma Lele Mentor Fellowship for Women at the American Agricultural Economic Association (AAEA).
“Many of us at IFPRI had the distinct pleasure of working directly with Dr. Lele over the years,” IFPRI’s Director General Johan Swinnen noted, “and she provided trusted evaluations and advice which informed the programming of CGIAR, the Carter Center, and the World Bank, among others.” Dr. Lele served as a member of CGIAR’s Technical Advisory Committee and leader of the CGIAR Meta-Evaluation Team while senior advisor at the World Bank.
We express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Lele. Her long, illustrious career reflected her commitment to research, policy analysis, and organizational guidance that helped vulnerable people worldwide. Her contributions will continue to shape the field of agricultural development for generations to come.
- Read Dr. Lele’s 2021 blog post, with Mark Rosegrant: $15.2 billion in research and innovation investments can put global climate and hunger goals within reach
- Watch recordings of these IFPRI events with Dr. Lele’s participation: