The UN World Food Programme has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 for its “efforts to combat hunger”. The Nobel committee on Friday announced the winner of what many consider to be the world’s most prestigious prize, after heightened infringements on press freedom in several countries, groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders were pegged as strong contenders to win the prize.

Some also thought the committee might have chosen to highlight an individual or organization that is prominent in fighting climate chang, bookies’ favourite to win the prize was the World Health Organization (WHO), for its efforts in coordinating the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. This week the five other Nobel awards were announced, they include literature, physics, chemistry, medicine or psychology, and economic sciences.

The prizes were established by Alfred Nobel in 1895. Last year, Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed took home the award for helping to end a two-decade conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.