Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council open briefing on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Ballistic Missile Test.

Thank you President, and thank you to ASG Khiari for your briefing.

President, this week’s salvo of missile launches by the DPRK, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, is further serious escalation. I join the Secretary-General in condemning these launches unequivocally.

I propose the Council respond by taking three steps:

First, we should condemn these actions clearly for what they are – an unacceptable threat to international peace and security – and reinforce the importance of implementing the Council’s sanctions in full.

Secondly, we should recall that the cost of these illicit launches is being borne directly by the North Korean people. The millions of dollars expended on this week’s launches alone could feed DPRK’s entire population for weeks. We echo calls on DPRK to allow aid to flow freely into the country and we note that sanctions exemptions remain in place to support expedited humanitarian assistance to the North Korean people.

Thirdly, we should renew our call for North Korea to engage meaningfully with offers from the United States and the Republic of Korea for dialogue. Diplomacy is the only route to sustained peace on the peninsula.

President, we may hear one or two members of this Council seek to equate lawful defensive military exercises with DPRK’s escalatory actions this week.

Defensive exercises are safe when they are notified to other states in advance, and when they operate within defined areas, as South Korean and US exercises have done.

What is not safe, is the launch of missiles that all members of this Council have agreed many times that DPRK must not possess.

It is not safe when those missiles threaten to overfly other states, causing alerts and alarm in those countries.

And it is not safe when missiles land only 60 kilometres from the Republic of Korea’s coastline.

We urge DPRK to end these provocations.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

Preamble

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, underline our strong sense of unity and our unshakable commitment to uphold the rules-based international order and to protect the rights of all, including the most vulnerable.

All Members of the United Nations must refrain from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Violations of universally agreed and legally binding fundamental principles such as peaceful cooperation, sovereignty, self-determination, and territorial integrity are unacceptable. We are clear in our commitment to hold those responsible for egregious violations of such basic principles of international law to account.

1. Russia’s war against Ukraine

We again call on Russia to immediately stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all of its forces and military equipment. Together with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba we condemn Russia’s recent escalation, including its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, in particular energy and water facilities, across Ukraine using missiles and Iranian drones and trainers. Through these attacks, Russia is trying to terrorize the civilian population. Indiscriminate attacks against civilian population and infrastructure constitute war crimes and we reiterate our determination to ensure full accountability for these and crimes against humanity. We also condemn the violation of Moldovan airspace.

Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable. Any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences. We also reject Russia’s false claims that Ukraine is preparing a radiological “dirty bomb”. The inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that these allegations are baseless, and we commend Ukraine for its transparency.

We also condemn Russia’s continued seizure and militarization of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, the abduction and reported abuse of Ukrainian personnel, and the willful destabilization of its operations. We support the IAEA’s efforts to establish a Safety and Security Zone.

We will continue to impose economic costs on Russia and on other countries, individuals or entities providing military support for Moscow’s war of aggression, as several of us have already done regarding Iran’s provision of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to Russia.

We reiterate our call for the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling Russia’s war of aggression, including permitting Russia’s armed forces to use Belarusian territory to launch missiles targeting Ukraine. If the Belarusian authorities more directly involve Belarus in Russia’s war, the G7 will impose overwhelming additional costs on the regime.

We reiterate our unwavering commitment to continue providing the financial, humanitarian, defense, political, technical, and legal support Ukraine needs to alleviate the suffering of its people and to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We salute the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s unprovoked aggression, and we are committed to helping Ukraine meet its winter preparedness needs.

Today we establish a G7 coordination mechanism to help Ukraine repair, restore and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure. We look forward to the 13 December international conference in Paris aimed at supporting Ukraine’s civilian resilience, organized by France and Ukraine. We also welcome the outcomes of the 25 October International Experts Conference in Berlin and remain committed to contribute to the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine. We will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

We reaffirm our support for press freedom and access to reliable information globally. We will continue to counter Russia’s disinformation, including false allegations concerning bioweapons. We are strengthening the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism’s capacity for a coordinated response.

Recalling the 11 October G7 Leaders’ statement, we welcome President Zelenskyy’s readiness for a just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and its legitimate right to defend itself from aggression. Russia’s calls for negotiations are not credible when it continues to escalate the war and issue new threats and disinformation.

2. Global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine

Russia’s war of aggression is a driver of the most severe global food and energy crises in recent history. We condemn Russia’s attempts to leverage energy and food exports as a tool of geopolitical coercion. The resulting turmoil is hitting vulnerable countries and communities around the world particularly hard, exacerbating an already dire situation caused by the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and existing conflicts. We will continue to coordinate among the G7 and beyond to help mitigate the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression on global economic stability and international food, nutrition and energy security by both addressing acute needs and making medium to long term investments in resilient systems.

We strongly support the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), which has reduced global food prices. We urge Russia to heed the Secretary-General’s call. The G7 is also leading other vital international initiatives, including the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS) and the EU-led Solidarity Lanes. We are also accelerating our work to get fertilizers to the most vulnerable. We commit to promote more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems globally and call on the G20 to support these efforts.

We continue to encourage oil-producing countries to increase production, which will decrease volatility in energy markets. We will finalize implementation of the price cap on seaborne Russian oil in the coming weeks.

3. Global issues

We reaffirm the need to strengthen and modernize the United Nations, with a view to making it more effective in the face of mounting global challenges, and we express our support for the vision of the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda.

We are committed to strengthening arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts for a more secure, more stable and safer world. We are strengthening export controls, including through international export control regimes, on materials, technology and research that could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. In this context, we support India’s early entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

We will also continue to enhance our coordination and cooperation, within and beyond the G7, including on economic security challenges, and we will stand up to acts of economic coercion.

We reaffirm our intention to increase debt transparency and find solutions to debt vulnerabilities, especially by ensuring the swift delivery of results through the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI).

Underscoring a geostrategic and global approach to connectivity, we renew our commitment to implement the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), including by mobilizing up to 600 billion US-Dollars in public and private investments over the next five years.

4. Iran

We, the G7 members, express our support for the fundamental aspiration of the people of Iran for a future where human security and their universal human rights are respected and protected. We condemn the violent death of the young Iranian woman “Jina” Mahsa Amini after her arrest by Iran’s so called “morality police.” We further condemn the brutal and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters and children. We urge Iranian authorities to honor their international obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

We advocate the right of all Iranians to access information, and we deplore the Iranian government’s erosion of civil space, and independent journalism, its targeting of human rights defenders, including by shutting down the internet and social media. We urge the Iranian authorities to treat women as equal, respecting the universal rights provided to them under the relevant international human rights treaties. We also call on the Iranian authorities to release unjustly detained prisoners, including recently arrested protesters, children, journalists and human rights defenders, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses. We will continue to use all available diplomatic measures to hold the Iranian authorities to account. We call on Iran to allow access to the country for relevant UN Human Rights Special Procedures mandate holders.

We strongly reject Iran’s practice of unfairly detaining dual and foreign citizens and call upon Iran to end the repellent practice of such unjust detentions in hopes of political gain.

We strongly support international efforts to hold Iran to account for its downing of PS752, which killed 176 innocent civilians. We demand that Iran fulfill its international legal obligations without delay.

We strongly condemn Iran’s continued destabilizing activities in and around the Middle East. These include Iran’s activities with both ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), i.e. drones, and transfers of such advanced weaponry to state and non-state actors. Such proliferation is destabilizing for the region and escalates already high tensions. We urge Iran to cease its support to violent state and non-state actors and proxy groups and fully abide by all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), including UNSCR 2231. We also support efforts at the United Nations to hold Russia and Iran accountable for their blatant violations of UNSCR 2231.

We reiterate our clear determination that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon. The G7 will continue working together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation and insufficient cooperation with the IAEA regarding its Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement. We remain deeply concerned by the unabated expansion of Iran’s nuclear program, which has no credible civilian justification. We call on Iran to change course and fulfill its legal obligations and political commitments in the field of nuclear non-proliferation without further delay. We note that despite many months of intense negotiations on a return to the JCPoA, Iran has not made the necessary decisions.

5. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

We, the G7 members, strongly condemn the unprecedented series of unlawful ballistic missile launches conducted by the DPRK in 2022, including multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the intermediate-range ballistic missile launch on 4 October 2022, which was recklessly launched over Japan. These launches demonstrate the DPRK’s continued efforts to expand its ballistic missile capabilities and are flagrant violations of multiple UNSCRs.

We reiterate our demand that the DPRK abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with all relevant UNSCRs. We urge the DPRK to immediately halt its destabilizing activity, fully abide with all legal obligations under the relevant UNSCRs, and fully comply with the NPT and IAEA safeguards.

Any nuclear test or other reckless action must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response. We call on all states to fully and effectively implement all UNSCRs and vigilantly monitor, prevent, and penalize sanctions evading activities. We call on the DPRK to cease further escalation and engage in meaningful diplomacy concerning its unlawful nuclear and ballistic programs. We remain committed to working with all relevant partners toward the goal of a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and upholding the rules-based international order.

We commend the work of the UNSC 1718 Committee, which has swiftly approved all COVID-19 related sanctions exemption requests for humanitarian assistance for the DPRK. We call on the DPRK to allow the re-establishment of UN and diplomatic access, in line with appropriate and reasonable COVID-19 regulations. We continue to condemn the DPRK’s systematic widespread and gross human rights violations and abuses and urge the DPRK to cooperate with all relevant UN bodies and to resolve the abductions issue immediately. We remain gravely concerned regarding the humanitarian situation in the DPRK, which is the result of the DPRK’s choice to prioritize its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of its own people.

6. Indo-Pacific

We, the G7 members, reiterate the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and based on the rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, transparency, territorial integrity, and the peaceful and inclusive resolution of disputes. We are committed to protecting and promoting the rules-based international order, improving regional connectivity, strengthening free and fair trade, enhancing national resilience, supporting inclusive economic growth, promoting global health security, as well as confronting the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity. We reaffirm our intention to work together with countries in the region and our support for the unity and centrality of ASEAN and commit to explore concrete cooperation in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

7. East and South China Seas

We remain seriously concerned about the situation in and around the East and South China Seas. We strongly oppose any moves that increase tensions and undermine regional stability and the rules-based international order. We emphasize the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and reaffirm UNCLOS’ important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the ocean and the seas. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, legally binding, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes. We reaffirm the need to uphold the principle of the UN Charter on peaceful settlement of disputes.

8. China

We, the G7 members, aim for constructive cooperation with China, where possible and in our interest, in particular on global challenges like peace and security, global health, the climate and biodiversity crisis and the conservation of natural resources. These challenges can only be tackled successfully through cooperation within the rules-based international order.

We remind China of the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter on peaceful settlement of disputes and to abstain from threats, coercion, intimidation, or the use of force. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and call for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic positions of G7 members on Taiwan, including stated one China policies.

We will continue to raise our concerns with China on its reported human rights violations and abuses, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. We reiterate our concerns over the continued erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy, and call on China to act in accordance with its international commitments and legal obligations.

We also call on China to treat foreign diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

9. Central Asia

We, the G7 members, discussed the multiple challenges facing the five Central Asian countries, ranging from the economic and geopolitical consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, to regional security issues and disputes, to climate change. We are committed to strengthening our cooperation with Central Asian countries and working with their governments and people on socio-economic development, respect for human rights, implementation of domestic and institutional reforms, as well as regional security. We will also work together to foster connectivity, transportation, and trade links.

10. Africa

We, the G7 members, underscore the geopolitical and strategic importance of the African continent. Close cooperation with our African partners remains vital. Africa is particularly affected by multiple global crises such as the climate crisis, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity and malnutrition, energy insecurity, the socio-economic consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, democratic backsliding, and massive global economic headwinds. Our cooperation with and support for Africa are guided by the objectives of the AU Agenda 2063, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the principles of the UN Charter. We will continue to work with our African partners to build resilient and sustainable agri-food and energy systems, mitigate climate change, and address disinformation.

We remain committed to investing in quality infrastructure in Africa based on the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, including through the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. We will continue to support regional manufacturing capacity for vaccines and other essential medical products supported by sustainable markets.

We are deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration of the political, security and humanitarian situation, including humanitarian access, in the Sahel. We are appalled by the violations and abuses of human rights against civilian populations, including those committed by terrorist groups and the Russia-affiliated Wagner Group forces in Mali. We call for accountability of all those responsible for human rights violations or abuses. We express our concern over the growing presence of Russian affiliated forces in Mali and elsewhere on the continent and their potentially destabilizing impact. We call for timely preparation of free and fair elections and comprehensive implementation of the transition charters in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, and reaffirm our support to the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union in this regard. We condemn the violence against protestors in Chad and the failure of that transitional government to adhere to African Union principles and communiques. We reiterate our strong commitment to support the populations of the Sahel countries, especially youth, and emphasize the need to work with people and governments of the littoral states in the Gulf of Guinea to strengthen their resilience to the threat of terrorism in a comprehensive way.

We remain concerned about peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the acute humanitarian needs, including famine in Somalia, and which disproportionally impact women and girls. We will work with the countries, institutions and civil society in the region to address these challenges. We welcome the announcement of the agreement reached by the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) brokered by the African Union, South Africa and Kenya, to settle the conflict in northern Ethiopia. We urge the Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF to fully honor and implement this commitment. Human rights violations, atrocities and abuses must cease immediately. Perpetrators of these violations and abuses must be held to account; survivors and victims must obtain justice.

We commend Somalia on the election of a new government and call for a concerted international effort to support President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s reform priorities and the fight against al-Shabaab. We firmly condemn the heinous attack by al-Shabaab on civilians on 29 October and express our heart-felt condolences to the families of the victims. More than one year after the military takeover in Sudan, we continue to urge the military to respect the commitment they made to withdraw from politics and maintain our call for a return to a civilian-led government based on broad support from the Sudanese people.

We are increasingly concerned by the ongoing, escalating violence and conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as well as regional tensions in the Great Lakes. We urge restraint by the M23 armed movement and call for a cessation of its current offensive. We welcome recent steps taken towards more stability in the region, including through talks with armed groups in the framework of the “EAC DRC Peace Process” and regional mediation by Angola. We call on all involved to participate in these efforts in good faith and to act in accordance with international law. We are convinced that only broad, multi-sectoral and cross-border cooperation can bring about lasting stability in the region.

11. Haiti

We express our deep concern at the worsening humanitarian situation in Haiti, particularly the increased spread of cholera and the deepening food and fuel crisis. We condemn the violence perpetrated by armed groups and those who support them. They are terrorizing and holding the population hostage. We reiterate our commitment to support all efforts to quickly resolve the current security and humanitarian crisis. We call on all stakeholders in Haiti to restore order and security and to allow the delivery of the aid required to meet the urgent needs of the population. We commend the UNSC for adopting a sanctions regime on 21 October. We reiterate the importance of establishing the conditions necessary to allow for free and fair elections.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

Ms Stephanie Al-Qaq has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil in succession to Mr Peter Wilson CMG.  Ms Al-Qaq will take up her appointment during November 2022.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Stephanie Al-Qaq

Married to: Dr Kareem Richard Al-Qaq

Children: 3

Dates	Role
2022 to present	FCDO, Iran Envoy and Director Iran and Regional Security
2019 to 2021	FCDO, Director, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
2015 to 2019	Abu Dhabi, Deputy Head of Mission
2013 to 2015	Mexico City, Minister Counsellor
2007 to 2012	Brasilia, Political Counsellor
2004 to 2006	FCO, Assistant Private Secretary to the Minister of State for the Middle East, Counter Terrorism and Consular
2003 to 2004	FCO, Desk Officer for Iraq
2002 to 2003	FCO, Desk Officer for Counter Narcotics
1998 to 2002	Prior to joining the office worked for several corporate, non-governmental and governmental organisations including Reuters, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and House of Commons

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 November 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this morning.

The leaders agreed the UK and Japan were incredibly important allies, who played a vital role in ensuring global stability and prosperity.

Reiterating the importance of ensuring a free and independent Indo-Pacific, the Prime Minister said that the UK was aligned with Japan on the challenges in the region.

Both leaders condemned the recent North Korean missile launches, and the Prime Minister said it was vital the international community remained closely coordinated on the best way forward.

Turning to trade, both Prime Ministers shared the view that the Pacific trade bloc, CPTPP, was an important framework and the UK’s accession offered a unique opportunity to support prosperity across the world.

Discussing progress on the UK’s Future Combat Air System, the leaders agreed that deeper cooperation on the next-generation fighter jet programme would underline the close relationship between the two nations.

Both leaders looked forward to meeting in person soon.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

An FCDO Spokesperson issued a statement on the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Ethiopia, two days after the signing of a peace agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

FCDO Spokesperson:

” The UK welcomes the important step towards peace taken by the Ethiopian Government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front in signing a cessation of hostilities on 2 November, and commends their choice to end the devastating two-year-long conflict.

“We are grateful to the leadership shown in brokering this critical agreement by African Union Commission Chairperson Faki, African Union High Representative to the Horn of Africa Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Kenyan President Kenyatta, and the South African Government in hosting the talks.

“It is now crucial that all parties in Ethiopia, with support from its friends in the international community, move to implement the agreement. Most critically, humanitarian aid must be urgently delivered to all those in conflict-affected areas.

“Peace creates opportunities for justice, reconciliation and reconstruction. The UK, as a longstanding friend and partner of Ethiopia, stands ready to work alongside the Ethiopian Government and others to support the recovery of conflict affected areas. We look forward to seeing the benefits of peace for the people of Ethiopia.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 November 2022.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

On Monday 10th October 2022, the UK Government and the Government of Ghana held a Carbon Market Development Roundtable at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

The event brought together generators, traders, verifiers, and other professionals to review and improve the current climate finance regulations, the market, and understand new and existing ways to support the growth of new networks to make the climate finance market successful in Ghana.

Speaking ahead of the workshop, Mrs Thompson said:

The benefits of carbon markets are two-fold: they bring finance and they bring protection. Ghana’s beautiful forests and green spaces put the country in prime position to benefit from a well-functioning carbon market.

Our event today has brought together the right people from across industry, civil society, government, and business to focus on getting Ghana access to the world’s growing carbon markets. Together we are making sure that Ghana gets the right investment now to protect the country’s vital natural resources for generations to come.

Attendees at the Carbon Market Development event spent time discussing and interrogating information and policies to support the growth of Ghana’s carbon market. Discussions were followed by a networking event hosted by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, and key policy officials from the High Commission.

Ghana has already taken important steps towards developing carbon markets as a climate finance opportunity. The country’s Environmental Protection Agency has drafted a new National Framework to govern and support carbon markets, while projects to generate carbon credits in Ghana are under development. The UK government recognises the importance of these developments and is working hard, in the run-up to COP27, to bring the right people together to help this market grow.

Organisers hope that the discussion and ideas generated at the event will now help to grow the understanding and support for Ghana’s own carbon market. As well as supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Framework.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

In Ghana, COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated the challenges of climate change, including energy, financial, and food security. The UK, Ghana, ECOWAS, and many other partners are working together to ensure that Ghana is playing its role in the West Africa region to produce more rice, facilitate trade, and reduce costs to the consumer.

Through the Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme, the UK government alongside strategic partners is investing £450,000 to establish the ECOWAS Rice Observatory and its national chapter, known as the ‘Ghana Competitive Africa Rice Platform’. This new public-private sector platform will identify and spur reforms to increase investment into the ECOWAS rice value chain.

This support for Ghana and other ECOWAS countries will:

• reduce the £2.6 billion annual cost of importing rice to West Africa
• potentially create more than 385,000 new jobs in the rice value chain across West Africa

British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson said:

The numbers speak for themselves: there is so much potential for growing the rice sector here in Ghana and across West Africa. The ECOWAS Rice Observatory will support the growth of the rice industry and increase trade and investment opportunities in the market.

At a time when many countries around the world are facing food insecurity as a result of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, I am confident this project will strengthen the food system here in Ghana and across the region, now and in the future.

The CARP launched in Accra (1st November 2022), at a ceremony led by its new Chairperson, Mr Yaw Poku, alongside the Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Patrick Robert Ankobiah, and the British High Commissioner, as well as representatives of ECOWAS, the German development agency, GIZ, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

The ERO provides a platform for rice stakeholders to understand patterns of demand and production, seize trade, investment, and reform opportunities, understand the impacts of climate change, and work towards resilient food security in the future.

As well as supporting the ERO, the UK is working with international partners to secure finance to respond to the global food crisis driven by climate change, and COVID-19. Now, Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine is exacerbating existing economic fragility and food insecurity.

In October, British High Commissioner Harriet Thompson visited AgDevCo’s Babator Irrigated Farming Hub in Ghana’s Savannah Region. Engaging 764,000 small-scale farmers and creating or sustaining 15,600 jobs across the continent, AgDevCo is a key investor in African agriculture, backed by UK Government investment. Earlier this year, AgDevCo sold Ghana’s biggest active irrigated farmland to regional multi-national company Oba Pack, having spent many years developing the site.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

• British High Commissioner Jane Marriott praises Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves for their innovative solutions to help repair and regenerate the planet – another example of Kenya’s pioneering commitment to green, clean energy.
• The UK-Kenya Climate partnership has driven investment in clean air projects, including helping Roam secure £6.6m worth of investment.
• The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the awards in Boston on December 2 to honour the Finalists and celebrate the five 2022 Earthshot Prize Winners.

November 4, 2022 — Today, Prince William and The Earthshot Prize revealed that Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves, both Kenyan companies, have been selected as Finalists for the second Earthshot Prize. Together, the Finalists are an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators spearheading fifteen groundbreaking solutions to the biggest environmental challenges our planet faces.

The fifteen Finalists will be in the running to receive a £1 million award at the second-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The Prize takes inspiration from President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot,’ which united millions of people around an organising goal to put man on the moon and catalysed the development of new technology in the 1960s.

Prince William said:

The innovators, leaders, and visionaries that make up our 2022 Earthshot Finalists prove there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of our planet. They are directing their time, energy, and talent towards bold solutions with the power to not only solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges, but to create healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.

I am so excited to celebrate these fifteen Finalists and see the five Winners of The Earthshot Prize announced in Boston – the hometown of President John F. Kennedy, who shared The Earthshot Prize’s belief that seemingly impossible goals are within reach if we only harness the limitless power of innovation, human ingenuity, and urgent optimism.

The UK-Kenya Climate partnership has driven investment in clean air projects, including helping Roam secure £6.6m worth of investment to expand their operation.

British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, said:

As Kenya continues to be a pioneer of green, clean energy, it comes as no surprise that Prince William and The Earthshot Prize are honouring Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves – two of Kenya’s most innovative companies – bringing the total to three Earthshot finalists in two years. Both are an example of Kenya’s renewed commitment to clean air, and inspiring positive climate action. Both organisations empower women to lead – and make a living by making a difference. The UK is proud to have supported Roam to secure investment to grow their innovative operation. We look forward to taking the UK-Kenya Climate Partnership further at COP27 in Egypt.

Mukuru Clean Stoves is a female-led start-up providing cleaner-burning stoves to women in Kenya to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook. Today, 200,000 people in Kenya use Mukuru Clean Stoves, saving $10 million in fuel costs, saving lives, and saving time. Mukuru is empowering women to make a living by making a difference.

Charlot Magayi, founder of Mukuru Clean Stoves, said:

Mukuru Clean Stoves began as a solution to a problem that I had felt personally in my own life. Today, we have an opportunity to transform the lives of millions, with cheaper, safer and more sustainable cookstoves and fuels. It is a privilege to be recognised by The Earthshot Prize as we embark on the next step in our journey.

Roam is an organisation building lower emission vehicles, making clean transportation accessible and affordable for urban cities on the African continent. . The company builds motorcycles and buses tailored to the market with affordability and reliability at the forefront. 40% of Roam’s employees are female, and estimate that by switching from petrol to electricity, drivers can cut running costs by 75%.

Filip Lovstrom, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Roam, said:

In Kenya, motorcycle taxis so called Boda Boda’s are the best way to get around and many rely on them for a living. However, they are also among the highest CO2 emitting vehicles on the market. The company builds motorcycles and buses tailored to the market with affordability and reliability at the forefront. We want to help the environment, and drivers’ pockets. We are honoured to be recognised alongside so many other brilliant solutions.

This is Kenya’s third Earthshot finalist in two years. In 2021, Kenyan company Sanergy was a finalist in the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category. They were already the largest waste recycling factory in Eastern Central Africa and they now serve three more cities in Kenya. A successful new investment round will allow international expansion. The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, Deloitte and Arup have supported with training, advice and project design.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 November 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council open debate on integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace.

Thank you, President. And I thank, as others have done, the Secretary-General and our very distinguished and thought-provoking briefers this morning.

Excellency, the United Kingdom is grateful to Ghana for your longstanding role in tackling armed conflict, and your significant contributions to UN peacekeeping. Ghana’s leadership has resulted in a safer world for many. We deeply value our close partnership.

At the outset, I also want to congratulate the African Union and African colleagues on the promising step towards lasting peace in Ethiopia following the agreement announced yesterday, and we offer our continued support.

President, as we have heard, conflicts are becoming increasingly complex.

For UN Peace Operations to operate effectively in this environment, they need to adapt and better coordinate with wider UN and non-UN peacebuilding work.

Specifically, I’d like to underline three points:

Firstly, peace operations need the capabilities to understand conflict drivers and feed that analysis into the wider UN strategy and approach. The UK is proud to support UN Peace and Development Advisers, whose expertise could be used in Mission settings to support greater strategic and operational join-up across the UN’s work.

Secondly, we need to incentivise and deliver a more integrated UN system to enable a more holistic approach as others have also said this morning. Integration scorecards piloted in Haiti, Somalia and Sudan, with UK funding, have made progress, but we need to scale this up. The Council can also drive this commitment; in the mandates it sets, and by encouraging the full use of the UN’s strategic planning and operating frameworks, and instruments such as the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law.

Thirdly, co-ordinated investment in peace is crucial. The Peacebuilding Fund, which the UK continues to support, is a key tool for bringing together different parts of the UN system. But it also needs strong leadership in Missions that encourages the wider UN Development system to step up investment in peace, and promotes partnerships with regional and international financial institutions. Both the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission can help drive this.

Colleagues, the costs of conflict are self-evident.

Investing in prevention is essential, as is strengthening women’s roles in conflict prevention and resolution for lasting peace and security. The UK is also proud to support the African Union’s Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention.

President, a system-wide approach to sustaining peace is critical.

The UK remains thankful to Ghana for this debate today, and remains committed to realising the promise of the 2016 “twin resolutions”.

Thank you.