2008 Press Releases

Archives : 2010 - 2009 - 2007 - 2006 - 2004/2005

December 2008

AFD supports Diambars’ new “education-through-football” center in South Africa

Alain Joyandet, Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophonie, Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of AFD, and Bernard Lama, President of the Diambars association signed a partnership agreement this morning for the creation of a training center for young footballers in South Africa. The center will be inaugurated a few months ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will give 120 youngsters access to both high-level sports training and a general education.

"Construire contre les marées"(Building against the tides) - Video-based Evaluation of the Prey Nup project in Cambodia

A film by Eric Mounier - Production Studio K: Pre-general release screening on Thursday 11 December at 5 p.m. at AFD. After over 20 years of conflict, Cambodia embarked upon a reconstruction era in the mid-1990s. Agence Française de Développement launched the “Prey Nup” project which heralded the return of French aid to Cambodia. The project lasted 10 years. It is the first time AFD has used a video-based evaluation and the question is now raised as to the input audiovisual tools can provide to the evaluation process.

The Collège de France creates a chair in partnership with AFD: "Knowledge against Poverty"

The chair will have a 5 year thematic cycle and will build scientific synergy on research and work relating to the fight against poverty. A high-level international expert will be appointed chair every year on topics such as access to water and energy, access to healthcare, health, growing urbanization and development economics. The main topics will be defined by the Assembly of Professors.

"Investing in Development"

Because an increasing number of companies are innovating and building new partnerships in poor countries, "IMS entreprendre pour la cité" and AFD organize the symposium "Investing in Development" from 9th to 10th december 2008. The objectives of this symposium is to highlight these trends and companies’ commitments to support the development of Southern countries, in order to identify and extend possible partnerships between private actors , public actors and NGOs/associations

14th UN Climate Talks in Poznań

AFD organizes three side-events during the 14th UN Climate Talks, from 1st to 10th December 2008, in Poznań, Poland

18 December 2008 Board of Directors meeting

Water and sanitation in Cape Verde, Gabon, the Palestinian Territories and Cambodia, urban and road development in Ghana and Haiti, support for the health sector in Surinam and West Africa… AFD pledges over a billion euros for development at its 18 December 2008 Board of Directors meeting.

18 December 2008 Overseas France Committee meeting

Investments in Guadeloupe and French Polynesia, port renovation in French Guiana and Mayotte, equity investment and urban development on Reunion island, AFD pledges over 150 million euros in Overseas France at its Overseas France Committee meeting on 17 December and its Board of Directors meeting on 18 December 2008.

November 2008

Millennium Challenge Corporation and Agence Française de Développement Seek to Increase Cooperation to Reduce Global Poverty

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today that seeks to increase international development coordination between the two agencies and to make their poverty reduction efforts more effective in Africa and throughout the developing world.

AFD opens the Solidaires du monde blog platform

AFD is launching the “Solidaires du monde” (Global Solidarity) blog platform to mark Solidarity Week (15 to 23 November 2008). The platform will allow citizens worldwide to voice their opinions, debate and inform or be informed about development issues. With Solidaires du monde AFD has created a new interactive site dedicated to North-South solidarity for all citizens whether or not they are bloggers. The site will be open to committed bloggers on 18 November.

13 November 2008 Board of Directors meeting

Creation of a wind farm in Ethiopia, access to information technologies in Africa, access to water in Kenya, budget support in Togo, AFD pledges a total of 162 million euros for development at its 13 November 2008 Board of Directors meeting.

12 November 2008 Overseas France Committee meeting

Modernizing the Fort de France University Hospital Center, sanitation on Reunion Island, social housing construction in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, AFD pledges over 67 million euros in Overseas France at its 12 November 2008 Overseas France Committee meeting.

Thursday 13 November 2008 : Conference "Water for Peace, Peace for Water"

A few months away from the Fifth World Water Forum to be held in Istanbul in 2009, the Chirac Foundation, UNESCO and Agence Française de Développement are organizing a conference: “Water for Peace, Peace for Water” Thursday 13 November 2008 in ParisThe conference will take place in the presence of Jacques Chirac, Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, and Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement.

European Parliament consults cooperation agencies

Workshop “EPAs for development”, 24 October 2008 - Summary of debates

October 2008

Roundtable discussion AFD/WWF : One crisis can hide another one ! The ecological credit crisis

“The recent downturn in the global economy is a stark reminder of the consequences of living beyond our means. But the possibility of financial recession pales in comparison to the looming ecological credit crunch”. Jim Leape, CEO of WWF-International (Living Planet Report 2008)

AFD / Ifop 2008 Barometer : French concerned with development aid despite economic uncertainty

The AFD / Ifop barometer 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.

2 October 2008 Board of Directors Meeting: AFD pledges over 260 million euros for development.

Combating climate change in Indonesia, social housing and Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa, health and infrastructure in West Africa, rural credits in Vietnam.

AFD pledges some 60 million euros for Overseas France at its 1 October 2008 Overseas France Committee meeting.

Health equipment and investments after the natural disasters in Martinique, equipment in Guadeloupe, port investments in Reunion.

Enlargement of the blog Ideas for Development

A year after its launch, Ideas for Development, an international blog designed to stimulate debates on development issues, is enlarging its membership. Now gathering ten heads of international organisations, this blog provides journalists and web users with an innovative forum to interact with senior international civil servants.

AFD becomes State operator for the implementation of inclusive development projects

Patrick STEFANINI, Secretary General of the French Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National identity and Inclusive development (MIIINDS) and Jean-Michel SEVERINO, Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), signed a framework partnership agreement on Friday 10 October 2008.

AFD and IDB to reinforce co-operation, with special emphasis on Global Public Goods and climate change mitigation.

The French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have committed to strengthen their cooperation in order to support strategic development projects in Latin American and Caribbean countries, where they can operate jointly .

Wednesday 8 October 2008 conference-debate on Methane reduction: a further challenge of climate change

Studies on climate change show that the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere must be dramatically reduced over the coming decades. In the interests of simplification the international community adopted an equivalence method for calculating emissions from the various gases using one common unit: the CO2 equivalent ton.

September 2008

Mobilizing for the Millennium Development Goals

Over the coming months the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be the core topic for several major events on the French and international agenda which will provide the opportunity to make a mid-term review and to communicate on how AFD works to combat poverty.

6th Conference Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and European Development Research Network (EUDN) Population and natural resources: managing the pressure

Jared Diamond, Michael Carter, Jean-Marie Baland, Alan Gelb. Whith the participation of Wangari Maathaï, Nobel Peace Prize 2004, Pierre Jacquet, Michel Griffon, Ernest Aryeetey, Hubert Cochet, Eswaran Somanathan, Denis Loyer, Thomas Sterner, Pierre-Noël Giraud, Zéphirin Diabré, François Bourguignon, Jean-Philippe Platteau, Jean-Michel Severino - Information and Registration

Presentation-Debate: "Niger’s 2005 Food Crisis"

Agence française de développement is pleased to invite you to attend a presentation-debate to mark the publication of the 225th issue of the Afrique contemporaine review devoted to “Niger’s food crisis” and written by researchers from the LASDEL laboratory in Niamey :

Presentation-Debate Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 5.30 p.m. (Jacques Alliot conference room)

Karthala publications and AFD’s Research Department are pleased to invite you to a presentation-debate on Wednesday 17 September 2008 on a book co-published with Karthala in July 2008 :"Growth and reforms in Mediterranean Arab countries" by Jacques Ould Aoudia

July 2008

IUCN Conference “The European Union and its Overseas Entities: Strategies to counter Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss” - Reunion Island 7-11 July 2008

This conference put forward new strategies and action plans integrating biodiversity conservation and climate change for Europe’s Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The event was organized by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Regional Council of Reunion Island and the French Observatory of the Impacts of Global Warming (ONERC), in partnership with the French Ministry for the Interior, Overseas France and its Territorial Authorities (MIOMCT).

Signing of a partnership agreement between the Regional Council of Reunion Island and AFD

A partnership agreement for regional cooperation was signed by Reunion Region and AFD on 11 July 2008.

AFD supports the implementation of the “Horizon 2020” initiative to depollute the Mediterranean

The Paris Summit for the Mediterranean ended today with Heads of State calling for new momentum for the implementation of the “Horizon 2020” initiative. The French President announced that France will, via AFD, devote 730 million euros to the initiative to finance the implementation of depollution programs and projects in the Mediterranean.

9 July: presentation-debate on "Jardins et rizières du Cambodge" and "La gestion concertée des ressources naturelles"

Gret, Karthala publications and Agence Française de Développement are pleased to invite you to attend a presentation-debate on two co-publications published by Karthala and Gret in March 2008: "Jardins et rizières du Cambodge" and "La gestion concertée des ressources naturelles" Wednesday 9 July 2008 at 5 p.m. at Agence Française de Développement.

Launch of the Arabic version of "Villes en devenir"

“Emerging Cities” (www.villesendevenir.org) came about thanks to the will of two French ministries, the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAEE) with support from Agence Française de Développement and various contributors including professionals, researchers and experts.

Presentation-debate: "Défis agricoles africains"

Agence Française de Développement is pleased to invite you to attend a presentation-debate to mark the launch of “Défis agricoles africains” (Africa’s agricultural challenges) published by Karthala (publication scheduled for 20 June), Monday 7 July 2008 at 9.30 a.m., at AFD.

Facilitating savings and inter-bank fund transfers for migrant workers to promote the development of SMEs and infrastructure projects in southern Mediterranean countries

In anticipation of the first Summit of Heads of State and Government leading to the creation of the "Union for the Mediterranean" on July 13, 2008 in Paris, a group of nine private banking institutions on the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean have decided to create a joint task force. The aim of this task force is to facilitate and reduce the cost of fund transfers for migrant workers living in Europe and to encourage savings with a view to increasing productive investment, promoting the growth of SMEs and the financing of infrastructure projects in southern Mediterranean countries.

4 July 2008 : Signing of a 10 million euro (FCFA 6.6bn) financing agreement in Dakar

A 10 million euro (FCFA 6.6bn) financing agreement will be signed on 4 July 2008 at Agence Française de Développement (AFD) headquarters during a visit by Mr. Pape DIOP, President of the Senate and Senator-Mayor of Dakar City, which he will represent, and AFD, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jean-Michel SEVERINO.

AFD pledges to work with the retired

Michel JACQUIER signed a partnership agreement on 24 June 2008 with three early-retirement and retirement associations - AGIR abcd (association of retired employees) – voluntary cooperation and development actions – ECTI (association for international technical exchanges and consultations and OTECI (technical office for international cooperation).

USD 1 Billion 4.125% - 24 June 2011

Agence Française de Développement, following a close marketwatch since the beginning of the year, made an inaugural USD bond issue in June 2008 amounting to USD1 billion (644 million euros) with a 3 year bullet maturity and carrying a 4.125% coupon rate (i.e. mid-swap USD – 10 bp or US Treasury 2 year + 120 bp). It is AFD’s first bond offer on the euro-dollar market in over 10 years.

Africapolis / AFD: Presentation – Debate on the topic "Dynamics of Urbanization in West Africa"

AFD and SEDET invite you to a debate Wednesday 2 July, from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. at Agence Française de développement (AFD), 5 rue Roland Barthes, Paris, 12ème on the topic: "Dynamics of Urbanization in West Africa - 1950-2020: updating knowledge".

PNUD and AFD: first “Growing Inclusive Markets” Initiative report

Tuesday 1 July 2008 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., AFD and UNDP invite you to the launch of the first “Growing Inclusive Markets” Initiative report: “Enterprises faced with the challenges of poverty: winning strategies".

June 2008

Migrations and human capital: What are the impacts of emigration on developing countries?

International seminar organized by AFD and Lille University (Laboratoire Equippe). This seminar will address the consequences of international migrations on the economies of countries of origin. 30 June 2008 at Agence Française de Développement.

AFD’s June 2008 Board of Directors meeting pledges over 50 million euros in Overseas France

Supporting investments by small businesses in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, water and sanitation in Reunion, AFD’s 26 June 2008 Board of Directors meeting pledges over 50 million euros in Overseas France.

AFD pledges a total of 320 million euros for developing countries

Helping refugees return home to Chad, modernizing Cairo airport, supporting the development of subsistence farming in Togo, drinking water supply in Tunisia. The 26 June 2008 AFD Board of Directors meeting pledges a total of 320 million euros for developing countries.

Tuesday 17 June 2008: "En temps réel" on "Grasping globalization in order to regulate it better"

Tuesday 17 June 2008 from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fnac Saint-Lazare, Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, director of research (CERI) et Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will sharing on the theme "Grasping globalization in order to regulate it better"

Région Centre and AFD sign a development partnership agreement

François BONNEAU, President of the Regional Council and Jean-Michel SEVERINO, Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), are signing a framework partnership agreement for actions of mutual interest in common cooperation countries and areas in Africa and in Asia.

Thursday 12 june 2008: Developpement Policy Forum roundtable

Jean Michel Severino, Chief Executive officer of the Agence Francaise de Développement will participate the Thursday 12 June 2008, in Brussels, at the "Developpement Policy Forum roundtable", organised by "Les amis de l'Europe" on the theme: "Does today's international aid achistecture help or hinder aid effectiveness?"

May 2008

PROPARCO triples its investment capacities for sustainable development in South countries

The successful 300 million euro capital increase of PROPARCO, Agence Française de Développement’s (AFD) private sector financing arm, was noted during the 23 May 2008 Board of Directors meeting. PROPARCO will consequently be able to triple its financings for the sustainable development of the private sector in South countries.

Board of Directors meeting of 29 May 2008

Support to food security in West Africa, support to agricultural organizations and health staff training in Afghanistan, energy efficiency in Thailand, forest ecosystem protection in Gabon, Agence Française de Développement commits a total of 213 million euros for developing and emerging countries

AFD announces strong growth in activities to support sustainable development

On Wednesday 14 May Jean-Michel Severino, Chief Executive Officer of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), presented AFD’s 2007 results. With 3.5 billion euros of commitments AFD achieved strong growth in its activities with a focus on supporting sustainable development. 2007 was also a year of effectiveness which is underscored by the impacts announced by AFD.

Electronic forum now open “Who will feed the world?”: agriculture as drivers of development

Does the importance of farming in agricultural development policies concern you? You can now share your experience and reflections and make suggestions ! The forum is open until 30 May 2008.

AFRICA-FRANCE-EUROPE: 48 hours to find each other

AFD is pleased to invite you to the screening of “Afrique-France-Europe: 48 heures pour se trouver” directed by Eric Cloué. The film was made to mark the international symposium held in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) on 6 and 7 February 2007.

14 May: China-Africa Conference

AFD, REASOPO and Sciences-Po invite you to a conference on “The Chinese in West Africa: beyond the myths”, on 14 May 2008, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at AFD.

April 2008

Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April 2008: Symposium about the Cornerstone Agreements for today’s New Caledonia

To mark the twentieth anniversary of the Matignon-Oudinot Accords (1988) the Asia-Imasia Network (CNRS/FMSH) is holding a symposium which will be presided by Mr. Michel Rocard. On Friday 25 April the morning will be devoted to the showing of the film “Mediators of the Pacific” by Charles Belmont and the afternoon to a roundtable gathering actors and witnesses of recent history. On Saturday 26 April academic specialists in history, geopolitics and law in the region will take the floor.

AFD and the French Platform for Fair Trade develop a partnership to support fair trade and strengthen its impact on the development of South countries

Agence Française de Développement and the French Platform for Fair Trade (PFCE) are joining forces and expertise with the aim of scaling up fair trade in France and strengthening farming in South countries. AFD and PFCE will sign a framework partnership agreement on Friday 25 April during the National Forum on Fair Trade.

Presentation of the 2008 Global Monitoring Report of World Bank

On Thursday 24 April 2008 from 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., AFD et World Bank invited you to the presentation of the 2008 Global Monitoring Report which makes a mid-term assessment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Banques Populaires de France Agency for Cooperation and Development and Agence Française de Développement sign a partnership agreement

On Thursday 24 April, Michel JACQUIER, Director of Operations at Agence Française de Développement and Stève GENTILI, Chairman of Banques Populaires de France Agency for Cooperation and Development (ABPCD) signed a partnership agreement.

15 April 2008 : The French Departments Assembly and AFD sign a partnership for development

Claudy LEBRETON, President of the French Departments Assembly (FDA) and Jean-Michel SEVERINO, CEO of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), will be signing a Framework Partnership Agreement on 15 April whereby actions of common interest will be led in shared cooperation areas and thematics.

9 and 10 April 2008: symposium on energy efficiency policies in Vietnam

A symposium on energy efficiency policies in Vietnam will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on 9 and 10 April 2008 as part of French Week in Vietnam. The symposium has been jointly organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) and will address the major energy challenges facing Vietnam from the perspective of energy management. It falls within the framework of one of the European Union’s priorities in Vietnam: to promote development, energy and the environment.

2 April: AFD signs the Sustainable Development Charter for Public Establishments and Enterprises

AFD signs the Sustainable Development Charter for Public Establishments and Enterprises within the framework of Sustainable Development Week. AFD has been contributing to the preparation of the Charter since the PESD Club was founded (2006).

March 2008

The President of the French Republic made an official visit to South Africa

The President of the French Republic made an official visit to South Africa on 28 and 29 February. The visit provided the opportunity to sign several agreements between Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and its partners.

Alioune Sall will be at AFD on 4 March

On 4 March 2008 AFD will have the pleasure to welcome Alioune SALL, a Senegalese intellectual who over the years has become one of the most experienced African experts in prospective reflection.

February 2008

Structuring France’s responses to bid invitations in the education sector: signing of a partnership agreement between AFD and CIEP

Agence française de Développement (AFD) and the Center for International Pedagogical Studies (CIEP) have decided to enter into a partnership in education cooperation sectors. The Partnership Agreement, signed on 29 February 2008, falls within the framework of France’s public policy alignment for education supply at the international level.

AFD supports fair-trade cotton in Africa and coral reef protection in the Pacific

Fair-trade cotton in Africa, coral reef protection in the Pacific, on 21 February 2008 AFD allocated 6.7 million euros in grants to support development in Africa and the Pacific.

Primary Schools in Senegal: Time to Build

The French Development Agency (Agence française de développement, AFD), the lead donor in the education sector in Senegal, has already put in place several activities to support Senegal’s education sector plan. - The program on the Fast Tack site
The Senegal AFD Portal

Greenhouse gas compensation and reduction: signing of a framework agreement between goodplanet.org and AFD

GoodPlanet.org and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have decided to strengthen their partnership and join forces in combating climate change.

AFD - CFSI Roundtable: What are the sustainable solutions for combating hunger?

AFD is hosting an exhibition by CFSI, the French Committee for International Solidarity, entitled: “Alimenterre”. To mark the event AFD and CFSI are holding a roundtable on Friday 15 February 2008 from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. on the topic: What are the sustainable solutions for combating hunger? A dialogue between NGOs and public authorities on France’s international cooperation policy on agriculture.

Agence Française de Développement at the Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi

Agence Française de Développement sponsored and attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) which was held in the Indian capital from 6 to 9 February 2008 on the topic of sustainable development and climate change.

The Africamania film festival

As part of the film festival Africamania, 50 years of African cinema, and the release of the ARTE DVD box set “Cinéastes africains, vol. 1”, the Cinémathèque française, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), ARTE, the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and France Cultures invite you to a special evening on Monday 18 February 2008.

Agence Française de Développement and OECD Development Centre are pleased to invite you to the launch of the French edition of the book: Policy Coherence for Development: Migration and Developing Countries

Introduction and presentation Javier Santiso, director of the OECD Development Centre Jeff Dayton-Johnson, senior economist, OECD Development Centre Panellists Pierre Jacquet, chief economist, Agence française de Développement
Flore Gubert, researcher, DIAL-IRD

Conference chaired by Bernard Laponche on Thursday 21 February

AFD’s Research Department invites you to a conference-debate chaired by Bernard LAPONCHE: “Global energy issues: a new paradigm” on Thursday 21 February 2008 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.