Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide support to help address losses of livelihood in Africa and the Middle East caused by COVID-19.

The UK is working in Africa and the Middle East to minimise the immediate risk to life from COVID-19, whilst protecting recent development gains.

We are directly supporting the most vulnerable, including women and girls, through adapting our existing programmes to address the primary impacts of COVID-19 (health and humanitarian programmes) and the secondary impacts (social protection, economic support and livelihoods). Our support is helping to keep goods and supply chains flowing to help minimise negative long-term economic impacts. As a last resort, and where necessary, we are also providing support to our own supply partners to ensure we maintain critical programmes delivering for vulnerable people.

We have so far pledged up to £744 million of UK aid in the COVID-19 response, including up to £150 million to the International Monetary Fund to support vulnerable economies. The UK is leading the way in responding to the economic impact of coronavirus by mitigating loss of livelihoods, higher prices and wider social impacts, and helping to build resilience.