We explore the heterogeneity of impacts on African countries during the two spikes in food prices in 2007/08 and 2010/11 and the differences in the policy responses. We first establish the linkages between changes in international food prices, the manifestations and impacts at country level, and the range of responses available to national policy makers. We then analyse the macro and microlevel impacts in more detail using a measure of food price vulnerability, market data for a number of food groups and countries, and data on consumer prices from African countries. We also discuss recent studies on the impact of rising prices on household level welfare. In the next section of the paper we present findings from a survey of policy response by African governments to food price increases and we characterize the differences in responses according to their macro, micro or structural focus, and the country-specific circumstances.