Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of AFD, is presenting the 3^rd edition of the AFD / Ifop barometer this morning. The poll reveals that the French remain attached to development aid and that they feel aid provided to developing countries should be disinterested. The French also express high expectations in terms of the form of aid, recipient countries and intervention methods.

The French strongly attached to development aid and its effectiveness

The 3^rd edition of the AFD / Ifop barometer confirms that French people are attached to development aid: 69% consider that development aid must be maintained even if France faces budgetary difficulties, i.e. a 5 point rise compared with 2007. The poll also reveals a strong consensus on France’s role in this area: 70% of respondents think that France plays a major role in development aid.

French opinion does, however, remain divided in terms of the effectiveness of actions implemented. Half generally consider the initiatives implemented by France as effective, but respondents are more critical when questioned about the two major issues of poverty reduction and climate change. Indeed, French people consider that France’s actions in these areas are not, or not at all, effective (respectively 61% and 57%).

“This assessment can particularly be explained by the fact that the French have high expectations in these two areas that they consider as priorities.” explains Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of AFD. “You may recall that AFD set itself ambitious targets with a real obligation to achieve results. In 2007, thanks to AFD operations, 2.7 million tons of CO2 were saved, projects implemented to support agriculture reached 6.5 million people and 4 million people gained access to drinking water.” he continues.

This perception of aid effectiveness does not however challenge the importance of official development assistance: 35% of the population consider that France’s budgetary effort should be higher and the majority of French (58%) see it as sufficient. This opinion is even stronger when respondents are told the amounts invested.

Finally, the poll reveals that the French feel personally involved in development aid. Almost half of respondents feel that they themselves participate by proxy in development aid as both voters and taxpayers. The French are also concerned over development aid and want to have information on Agence Française de Développement’s action, particularly in terms of its intervention sectors (35%), the results of its actions (32%) and the projects it finances (31%).

French in favour of disinterested aid giving ownership to recipient countries

For the French aid must be synonymous with autonomy and should transfer know-how and skills (43%) or should be used to implement public policy (36%).

A new item this year is the fact that the majority of respondents are for disinterested aid that should first target countries which need it the most. Africa should consequently be the 1^st recipient of actions to combat poverty (81%) and Asia should be the first to benefit from financing for projects to combat climate change (56%).

The French clearly state that their priorities are for humanitarian and health actions: respondents view poverty reduction as the top priority objective for development aid – 61% put it among the 3 priorities. The French feel that the individual must be at the center of actions implemented and come before economic and environmental measures. 98% of the population see access to drinking water as the first action that should be implemented, followed by public health programs (98%) and aid for drug access (96%).

“AFD’s action is obviously in line with French people’s expectations. Poverty reduction is the cornerstone of our operations and in 2007 two-thirds of our activities were devoted to it. Recent changes in the environment have also led us to extend our activity to areas where the future of the climate, biodiversity and global health are at stake”,

concludes Jean-Michel Severino.

*Technical note

Survey conducted by Ifop during face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. Information was collected from a national cross-section of 1 000 individuals aged 15 and over (after rural doubling and adjustment). Field poll conducted from 10 to 16 July 2008.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is a specialized financial institution at the center of France’s official development assistance to poor countries and support to French Overseas local authorities. In this capacity, AFD contributes to poverty reduction, supports economic growth and environmental preservation. AFD finances projects led by local public authorities, public enterprises, the private sector and associations. www.afd.fr

Press contacts

Laure Weisgerber, weisgerberl@afd.fr – Tel.: 33 (0)1 53 44 30 57

Anne-Sophie Morizot (Hopscotch), asmorizot@hopscotch.fr – Tel.: 33 (0)1.58.65.00.88