Governance

Governance

AFD has been entrusted with the role as the main operator for France’s cooperation policy by the public authorities.

History and status

As a specialized financial institution, AFD comes under banking law. It consequently combines the functions of a development bank with those of an implementing agency for France’s official development assistance policy. In the French Overseas Communities, AFD implements a policy, on behalf of the State, to support local public authorities and finance the economy.

Find out more about AFD’s history and status

AFD’s Board of Directors

Its Board of Directors comprises a Chairman, 16 members appointed by decree, including 6 State representatives (Ministry of the Interior, Overseas France and Territorial Authorities; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment; Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development).

AFD has signed agreements defining objectives and resources with the State. It implements the orientations defined in the framework of the Inter-ministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development (CICID), chaired by the Prime Minister.

Find out more about AFD Board of Directors

AFD’s agencies and network

In the countries where it is represented, its agencies work in close partnership with all the other French services. The French Ambassador plays a role of leadership and coordination.

Find out more about its agencies and network

Tools to support AFD’s action

AFD works within the framework of the French government’s development policy via several tools:

  • A coherence tool for each country: “Partnership Framework Documents (PFDs)”. They are the reference documents for all the actors of French cooperation, which naturally means that AFD and its representatives in the field fully participate in their definition and integrate this reference when preparing Intervention Frameworks.
  • A coherence tool for each sector: “ Sector Strategies ". They are jointly prepared by AFD, the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development (DGCID) and the Directorate General of the Treasury and Economic Policy (DGTPE) following in-depth consultations. AFD’s Sector Intervention Frameworks (SIFs) are in line with these Sector Strategies.
  • Financial tools: AFD implements financing and project grants under the budget programs of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAE) and the Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment (MINEFI) for official development assistance.
Find out more about our financing tools