The EKFS presents the Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine once a year in recognition of special achievements in the area of development cooperation. Projects all over the world which serve to improve healthcare in an outstanding manner are honoured.

The award was endowed with € 100,000 until 2025 and has been endowed with € 250,000 since 2026 – money that is utilised directly for the projects. Each year the award is announced with reference to a different topical emphasis; announcement of the competition takes place in the spring.

The Humanitarian Award 2026 is dedicated to the topic “People with Disabilities.”  
Further information can be found here. 

Image 2025 - Mobile clinics
Dr. Ana Lucía Asturias: Pediatric ophthalmologist, coordinator of the retinopathy of prematurity program 2024 - Child Health
Image 2023 - Leprosy
Sr. Rita Schiffer 2022 - Sustainable Surgical Care
Image: Dr. Jean-Paul Uvoyo Ulangi 2021 - Epidemic Preparedness and Response
Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2020: Award winner Dr Florent Mbo 2020 - Neglected Tropical Diseases
Dr. Martin Rohacek at work 2019 - Emergency medicine and intensive care
Dr Carina Vetye at the Municipal Health Centre No. 16 in Villa Zagala 2018 - Non-communicable diseases
Child in a clinic 2017 - Mother and child health
German Society for Tropical Paediatrics and International Child Health (GTP): round in hospital 2016 - Tropical Paediatrics
Impressions of the award ceremony 2016 before 2016

You can find announcements and calls for proposals from the foundation in the humanitarian field at Current Topics/Call for Proposals. If you would like to be regularly notified regarding deadlines, announcements and calls for proposals in the humanitarian field, please contact our designated representative.

Dr. Jochen Bitzer
Dr. Jochen Bitzer
Medical Development Cooperation
j.bitzer@ekfs.de
+49 (0)6172 8975-26
Dr. Judith von Heusinger
Dr. Judith von Heusinger
Medical Development Cooperation
j.heusinger@ekfs.de
+49 (0)6172 8975-17