UK pledges up to £15m aid for climate prevention; Africa supply chains face geopolitical disruption
The UK government announced a £15m fund for preventive action against El Niño, while experts warn African businesses that efficiency no longer secures them against rising costs and disruptions.
Development Minister Kirsty McNeill reaffirmed the Labour manifesto pledge to return aid spending to 0.7% of national income. She stated she is a huge believer in the quality of British aid and emphasized building agile partnerships to address development challenges. McNeill indicated no specific timeline exists, noting the government would work toward the target when fiscal circumstances allow. She announced that up to £15m is available via the humanitarian crisis fund to support preventive action in countries at risk from El Niño, including vaccinating livestock and providing cash to farmers.
Separately, experts at the African Centre for Supply Chain conference warned that geopolitical tensions are exposing vulnerabilities in Africa's supply chains. Obiora Madu, director general of the centre, stated that efficiency alone is insufficient because disruption can kill businesses completely. He highlighted that heavy dependence on external suppliers and inadequate regional production capacity leave companies vulnerable to shocks, rising costs, and production delays. The conference noted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the danger of excessive dependence on a single sourcing market, particularly China.
