Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that the world is at risk of "sleepwalking" into a food crisis, as Iran's three-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt key supply chains for energy and fertiliser. Speaking at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, co-hosted by the UK and South Africa, Cooper called for a "bold new approach" to international development in the face of multiple global threats, including climate change, disease, and conflict.
Cooper's Warning on Global Food Crisis
During her keynote address, Cooper emphasised that the world is "more volatile, more contested, more unstable than ever," with events in the Middle East among a myriad of threats that wealthy nations must address more effectively. She stated, "The global economy is being held hostage, with the Global South paying the biggest price," referring to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely impacted communities at a critical time for planting the next harvest. "The agricultural clock is ticking, and damage is already being done that will affect crop yields and food prices well into next year," she added.
Cooper highlighted that the World Food Programme has warned approximately 45 million people in the Global South are at risk of being pushed into acute hunger this year, stressing that "the world risks sleepwalking into a global food crisis."
Concurrent Crises and New Development Approach
In her speech, Cooper also pointed to other "concurrent crises" such as conflict, climate change, and communicable diseases, with the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cited as a particular concern. Given these threats and recent aid cuts, she argued that "bold new approaches" to international development are essential. The UK's new strategy, which prioritises aid for fragile and conflict-affected countries while building investment partnerships with more stable developing nations, exemplifies this shift.
"We need to mobilise much wider investments and different forms of capital investment and support," Cooper said. "The second shift is to make sure that we focus our humanitarian grant aid on the countries and communities that most need support." Key announcements at the conference include £1 billion in climate investments from the government-owned British International Investments, expected to unlock an additional £3.5 billion in private capital, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The UK also launched new "Communities of Expertise," described as "demand-led, interdisciplinary hubs" to share UK expertise in areas such as climate and energy, education, health, finance, and governance.
Mixed Reactions to UK's Position
However, the conference drew mixed reactions. Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee, expressed concern that the conference's ambition outstrips the reality of a reduced budget. "I remain concerned that the ambition pinned to the conference far outstrips the reality of what can be achieved with a much-reduced budget," she told The Independent. "Patient investment in preventing the root causes of poverty—conflict, inequality, and climate change—should be our focus."
Champion's remarks come as other nations, like Norway, adapt their development strategies without cutting budgets. A senior official from an African embassy in London voiced scepticism about increased investment from the Global North, citing persistent misperceptions of risk. "There remains a historic perception from investors that all the diverse African countries are actually the same, and all are risky, even when that is not the case," he said. "The cost of insuring a shipment from Brazil to Europe is around 20% of the cost of insuring that same shipment from Africa to Europe, and so far that has not changed."
NGOs Express Concerns
UK non-governmental organisations also voiced concerns. Jennifer Larbie, Christian Aid's UK Influencing Lead, urged the government to introduce a law compelling private sector creditors to deliver immediate debt relief. Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, criticised the government for continuing arms sales to Israel while cutting aid. Dorothy Sang, Head of Advocacy and Policy at CARE International UK, highlighted the gendered nature of food insecurity, calling for women's voices to be central to solutions. "Without the right voices in the room, the billions raised could struggle to deliver the transformative change we need," she said.
This article is part of The Independent’s Rethinking Global Aid project.
