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Mexico
Mexico occupies a unique geographic position on the continent, located in North America. As the second-largest Latin American economy after Brazil, the country is committed to multilateralism and is pursuing a balanced path toward a sustainable and inclusive economy. It has been supported by AFD Group since 2009.
Context
This federation of 32 states is both a demographic and economic power, ranking among the world’s 15 largest economies. With over 130 million inhabitants and more than 10% of the planet’s biodiversity, Mexico is a country of contrasting socio-economic and territorial dynamics. It faces deep inequalities, growing pressure on natural resources, and a dual economic development model.
Recent political history has been marked by the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in 2018, followed by his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, in 2024, the first woman elected head of state. Building on AMLO’s priorities of poverty reduction and food and energy sovereignty, President Sheinbaum continues these efforts while placing greater emphasis on climate action.
However, a portion of the population remains excluded from social protection systems, and persistent informality, security challenges, and justice system gaps continue to hinder the country’s full development. The industrial north, closely linked to the United States, contrasts sharply with the more rural south, home to a majority of the country’s Indigenous communities.
Mexico is a party to the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force in 2020. In a multipolar geopolitical landscape and with strong trade ties to its northern neighbor, the country is now seeking a balanced position, committed to multilateralism and open to new partnerships. The government’s ambition for a sustainable and inclusive economic model represents an opportunity for AFD Group, France, and Europe to support a dynamic of inclusive and climate-conscious investment, while addressing persistent socio-economic and environmental challenges.
AFD Group has been active in Mexico since 2009, working alongside French, European, and international institutions and partners. It mobilizes technical and financial solutions to support projects with strong social and environmental impact. With €3.5 billion in financing committed, AFD has established itself as a trusted and valued partner, supporting Mexico in designing and implementing public policies that promote a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive development model.
AFD’s Mexico office reports to the Central America Regional Directorate (DR MCC).
Our approach
"AFD Group and Mexico: supporting the transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy, reducing pressure on natural resources, and tackling inequality."
AFD Group places the fight against climate change at the core of its operations, supporting both mitigation and adaptation. This makes it a key partner for public and private actors. Its work focuses on four main areas:
Support for renewable energy projects and the electricity grid, through a longstanding partnership with the national electricity provider CFE, launched in 2011. This includes five non-sovereign loans totaling €800 million, technical cooperation with EDF and RTE, and strategic dialogue on energy transition with the Ministry of Energy (SENER). This positioning has enabled AFD to support innovative market opportunities, including contracts awarded to French companies. In 2019, Proparco signed a $60 million loan with Engie to finance solar and wind energy projects.
Promotion of a just energy transition, bringing together energy and social agendas. A public policy loan is planned for 2025, accompanied by strategic dialogue and technical assistance on energy planning, financing mechanisms, and energy justice.
Support for green economic sectors, such as energy efficiency in buildings. In 2024, AFD provided a credit line to the public development bank NAFIN, alongside the Green Climate Fund, as part of the PEEB Cool program. Circular economy, one of the Mexican government’s priorities, has been at the center of AFD’s dialogue with the Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT) since 2022.
Strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable territories and communities, through the “Resilience” project, a public policy loan implemented from 2021 to 2024 to reduce economic, social, and climate vulnerability at the local level.
AFD Group is working through strong partnerships to promote the integrated management of healthy and productive terrestrial and marine ecosystems, combining biodiversity conservation, local development, and climate action.
Strengthening integrated landscape management tools to protect natural ecosystems, through public policy loans and pilot projects in around fifteen states, inspired by French and European experience. These initiatives aim to promote sustainable local environmental governance practices in forest management (2010), nature conservation (2012), and ecological connectivity (2017).
Mainstreaming biodiversity into productive sectors by promoting sustainable agricultural practices. In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (SADER) and the rural development bank FIRA, AFD supports the sustainable transformation of agricultural and livestock value chains, using approaches based on regenerative agriculture, agroecology, bioeconomy, and One Health.
Protecting oceans and fishery resources. Since 2022, AFD has been supporting sustainable fishing alongside vulnerable communities, through assistance to the national system of fish refuge zones (Zonas de Refugio Pesquero), in line with Mexico’s national and international ocean agendas.
Sustainable management and preservation of water resources, in response to growing pressures on water availability and quality. AFD is supporting the development and implementation of the National Water Plan for 2024 to 2030.
To engage Mexican financial actors in advancing the 2030 Agenda, AFD Group draws on its involvement in international networks (IDFC, Finance in Common, NGFS) and its recognized expertise in green finance.
Providing financing to national development banks, public agencies, and private financial institutions. AFD Group helps anchor sustainable finance in Mexico by offering thematic credit lines focused on climate, energy transition, natural resource preservation, and financial inclusion. These aim to support access to new markets and strengthen internal capacities.
Fostering the sustainable finance ecosystem through financial mobilization and innovation. AFD works closely with the Ministry of Finance (SHCP), the central bank Banxico, and financial system regulators and supervisors. Since 2024, AFD has been supporting the creation of a public-private dialogue platform to guide the financial sector’s transition toward sustainable finance. This initiative aims to promote coordination, innovation, and best practices, based on standards developed by the Banque de France. The agency also supports the adaptation of macroeconomic models (GEMMES and ESTEEM), developed by its economic research teams, to anticipate the impacts of ecological and economic transitions.
Social inequality is addressed as a cross-cutting issue across all three areas of intervention, through support targeted at different population groups.
Vulnerable populations. AFD and Proparco prioritize support for the poorest populations and migrants in their operations, aiming to improve access to essential social services and strengthen financial inclusion.
Women. AFD supports gender equality through projects that incorporate a gender-based approach, aligned with France’s feminist diplomacy, AFD’s commitments, and the priorities of the Mexican government, which created a dedicated Ministry for Women in 2025.
Working population. AFD promotes human capital development by supporting skills training, decent employment, and labor formalization through projects and a dedicated funding window for civil society organizations. Under the EU4DecentWork project, Expertise France is working with public authorities to improve working conditions in tourism, the automotive sector, agrifood, and domestic work, in partnership with France Travail.
Citizens. AFD supports civic engagement, democracy, justice, and transparency, including through the implementation of the Escazú Agreement on environmental and climate justice with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), and the fight against organized crime through the European program El PAcCTO, led by Expertise France.
In the field
Below, find the country's projects, news, publications, and contact details in one click.
Projects
News & Press Releases
AFD uses Strong Sustainability to Support Partners’ Transitions to Greener Development
Published on december 20 2022
Publications & Media
Key figures
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€3.5 billion committed by AFD Group since 2009
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80% of projects have climate co-benefits
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75% of projects have gender equality co-benefits