Recommendation 3

HM Government Accepted

Government Response – Partially Agree 13. We agree that smallholder farmers are vital players in the global food system and that it is important to consider the impact relevant government programmes have on them. Smallholder farmers have been central to UK’s ODA policy and programming on food and agriculture, and we support a range of programmes and initiatives to promote food security while also helping smallholders to benefit from sustainably increased incomes (including moving beyond farming). Our programmes have focused on supporting farmers in the most climate vulnerable countries to adopt sustainable and resilient agricultural practices and to secure access to local markets. 14. The UK already has social and environmental safeguarding frameworks in place to ensure we effectively assess, manage and mitigate any negative consequences a programme or policy may have on individuals, communities, or groups. DBT publishes scoping assessments for new free trade agreements, prior to negotiations commencing, impact assessments after negotiations have concluded, and post implementation reviews within five years of the FTA coming into force. These provide an assessment of the potential implications for different groups in the labour market, including women. The UK recognises the importance of expanding our understanding of the gender impacts of trade. We are committed to building our evidence base through analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, which is used to inform our trade agreement implementation activities. 15. In light of these existing processes and in the context of the current Spending Review we do not think a separate assessment of government programmes’ impact on smallholder farmers is warranted at this stage. Depending on the outcome of the Spending Review and the scope and focus of future ODA programmes, we will consider the case for further impact assessment in 2026. Disability and food insecurity Conclusion and Recommendation 4 Disabled people are particularly vulnerable to hunger and their needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger focussed programming. The Government have made important steps in this direction. We recommend the Government specifically address the linkages between nutrition and disability in the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy. We request the relevant section of the updated strategy is shared with the Committee. (Recommendation 4) Government Response – Partially Agree 16. The Government recognises the linkages between the prevalence of disability and inadequate nutrition. Children with disabilities suffer disproportionately higher rates of malnutrition yet are less likely to benefit from nutritional programmes. This is most often due to an interplay of factors including physical problems in feeding, a lack of knowledge or skills among caregivers regarding feeding practices, or broader societal causes related to neglect or stigma. Malnutrition itself can also cause life-long functional and cognitive impairment. 17. In February, the Prime Minister announced the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, to be funded by a reduction to ODA spending. Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. It was therefore necessary to pause the refresh of our Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy. We will consider options for updating it once the multi- year Spending Review has concluded and our future priorities and resource allocation decisions on international development are clearer. Conflict and fragile states Conclusion and Recommendation 5 Conflict breeds hunger and hunger breeds conflict. We recommend that stabilisation and peace building at both the programme and diplomatic level is made a priority for the Government as it seeks to end hunger by 2030. (Recommendation 5) Government response – Partially Agree 18. The UK remains committed to working at all levels to promote stabilisation and peacebuilding. The Government recognises that the drivers of acute food insecurity are complex, often involving multiple and interrelated factors arising from armed conflict and insecurity, economic shocks and weather extremes. We agree that food insecurity is a factor driving conflict and that conflict drives food insecurity. 19. We are proactively addressing conflict-induced hunger. The UK uses its seat at the UN Security Council to champion and implement Resolution 2417 which enables reporting and early warnings when parties to conflict cause food insecurity and famine risk. We used our position to urge swift action when such warnings have been issued last year on Gaza and Sudan. The UK has produced a Legal Handbook on the international rules that play a role in avoiding and addressing food insecurity in armed conflict to promote understanding and improve compliance with international humanitarian law. 20. Alongside diplomatic levers, our bilat