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Building with our partners
In the era of the SDGs, solutions are co-created and shared globally through cross-cutting collaboration. Development today calls for collective action that is inclusive and scaled to fit. Half of our projects are co-financed with partners — other development banks, but also local governments, NGOs, foundations — and more. Co-financing amplifies impact, attracts additional investors, and makes it possible to carry out the most ambitious initiatives.
Civil society organizations
AFD’s relationships with CSOs have strongly developed and diversified since 2009, when AFD was first given a mandate for developing strategic and financial partnerships with French civil society organizations. These now multiform relationships cover several aspects simultaneously: institutional, strategic, and sectoral dialogue; knowledge production; and the financing of projects and activities.
© Cyril le Tourneur d'Ison
Europe
The European Commission and its 27 Member States provide about 46% of the world's official development assistance, which makes them the world's largest donor with a total of €66.8 billion allocated in 2020. The EU is therefore a key player in the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve its objectives, the European Commission is mobilizing its European partners. For more than 12 years, AFD Group has been working extensively with the EU.
Between 2014 and 2020, the European Commission allocated €2.8 billion in grants to the Group for more than 220 projects. This co-financing activity places AFD Group at the top of the Commission's list of European partners. AFD Group also works closely with various European partners for greater efficiency.
Development banks and agencies
Regardless of whether they are bilateral, multilateral or national, development banks and agencies are natural partners for AFD. Many of our projects are cofinanced by one or more of them. Indeed, synergies among donors are essential for making their actions effective.
Siège de la Banque mondiale à Washington © World Bank / Simone D. McCourtie
IDFC
National and regional development banks in emerging and developing countries have become crucial actors for financing transitions and reaching the SDGs. The objective of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) is to increase the synergies between all the development banks and the main bilateral banks.
Éoliennes, Afrique du Sud © Didier Gentilhomme / AFD
The United Nations
The United Nations is a key forum in terms of international discussions on development aid, and AFD participates in these actively. We maintain institutional relations with the UN and operational relations with certain UN organizations.
Assemblée générale des Nations Unies © John Gillespie, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Caisse des Dépôts
The alliance with Caisse des Dépôts marked a new phase in the history of AFD. The driving force of this partnership are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have become the common guide for public action in France and abroad.
© Alain Goulard pour l'AFD
Local and regional authorities
AFD is devoting an increasing share of its activity to direct financing of local authorities in the countries where it works. To do so, it relies on the expertise of French local and regional authorities in particular, many of which are significant actors in development aid.
Ville de Johannesbourg, Afrique du Sud © Cyril Le Tourneur pour l'AFD
Foundations
Foundations are legal entities working in the public interest. They play an increasingly significant role financially and in terms of influence, innovation, and strong local presence for development projects. For AFD, creating partnerships with these fast-growing actors represents a real opportunity for increasing aid effectiveness.
Rencontre entre Bill Gates et Rémy Rioux © Marc Roussel pour l'AFD
Think tanks and academic entities
AFD maintains relationships of work, research, and reflection with numerous think tanks, centers of study and research, universities and institutes of higher learning, and innovation centers – both in France and abroad. These partnerships may involve intellectual production, project assistance, or consulting.
© Carl Bigmore pour ODI, Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
