Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of rising food prices on the (a) economy and (b) society of Cabo Verde.

Cape Verde is experiencing record levels of food insecurity and in June 2022 the Government of the Republic of Cabo Verde announced a social and economic emergency. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation predicts that without urgent intervention, rising food prices risk having a severe impact on local agricultural production, livestock and the livelihoods of rural communities.

The UK is working with the international community to support countries affected by food insecurity. We played a leading role in securing the World Bank's commitment of $36 billion of finance for food security and supported the African Development Bank's new $1.5 billion emergency facility to boost food production.