Strategy

AFD’s strategy in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean area covers three continents and is home to a whole host of different identities. AFD has defined a specific development strategy for this area in line with the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean.

AFD has been working in the Maghreb region (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) since 1992 and has since extended its operations to Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. AFD’s operations aim to strengthen growth in Southern Mediterranean economies and help forge links with Northern economies, promote the sustainable development of the Mediterranean Basin, a global public good, and foster social cohesion by reducing factors of conflict. Group commitments in the region have risen sharply (+26% a year since 2002) and reached €1.16 billion in 2009. This represents roughly 40% of AFD’s annual commitments in foreign countries. These operations are almost exclusively financed by loans.


AFD’s financing aims to:

  • strengthen the growth and convergence of the economies of both Southern and Northern Mediterranean countries,
  • promote the sustainable development of the Mediterranean Basin, a global public good,
  • promote social cohesion in order to reduce conflicts.

These targets break down into five objectives for the entire region:

  • raise the level of human development,
  • promote sustainable agricultural and rural development that contributes to food security,
  • contribute to modernizing productive sectors,
  • promote a balanced regional development,
  • foster the integrated management of natural resources and the protection of cultural heritage.