In a country where 42% of its inhabitants are under 15 years of age, education and training are crucial topics. Unemployment is one of the main concerns for young Ivorians. 

AFD supports the Ivorian education system in its entirety and is taking action at all levels. We have 5 objectives: 

• improving basic education to reduce illiteracy and boost skills acquisition (secondary school reform);
• bring the vocational training system closer to the private sector to better meet the needs of Ivorian companies (especially in construction, the agri-food industry and maintenance); 
• increase the integration of young people into the labour market via internships and apprenticeships, and promote entrepreneurship; 
• modernise higher education and scientific research: implementation of the Bachelors-Masters-PhD system, support the Félix Houphouët Boigny National Polytechnic Institute; 
• promote access of marginalised populations to education and employment, especially girls.

Côte d'Ivoire still has high maternal and infant mortality rates. This is due to poor quality healthcare, a lack of qualified staff and equipment, and accessibility of services, especially in rural areas. 

Through debt relief and development contracts (C2D), AFD is supporting the Ivorian healthcare system in order to improve the health of the most vulnerable populations. Our support aims to:

• improve paramedical human resources, medication and maternal and infant healthcare;
• improve access to quality family planning services in order to better monitor pregnancies and reduce maternal mortality.

Improved traffic

Côte d'Ivoire's considerable transport infrastructures were built during the 1960s and 70s. Their modernisation is a priority in the State's National Development Plan. 
AFD's commitments include funding the renovation of 230 km of the "North Road" and the Houphouët Boigny Bridge in Abidjan, and the construction of 14 metal bridges on rural roads. 

We are also boosting the capabilities of the key actors in the sector, such as Ageroute and the Road Maintenance Fund.

Clean drinking water for all

AFD improves access to clean drinking water in Côte d'Ivoire. As a result, nearly one million people have benefited from emergency programmes. In Abidjan, efforts were focused on production and distribution networks, and providing 23,000 homes with drinking water. We also support Côte d'Ivoire in its integrated management of resources. We have funded the installation of a piezometric network to monitor Abidjan's groundwater.

Electricity in the countryside

Access to electricity in rural areas is a priority. The government's objective is to connect all municipalities with over 500 inhabitants. 

AFD is funding the connection of 350 municipalities and a social connection campaign for 130,000 households. In addition, we are supporting the renovation of the Buyo Dam to increase production capacity.

Moving towards a "connected" Côte d'Ivoire

In order to improve Ivorians' access to the internet, AFD is working alongside the National Agency of the Universal Service of Telecommunications (ANSUT) to install a 5,000 km fibre optic network throughout the territory.
 

The agricultural sector plays a key role in the country's economy (28% of its GDP).

Conserved natural resources

Agricultural development often has a negative impact on natural resource preservation. Forest and protected areas, which are declining at an alarming rate, are among the first to be affected. 

AFD supports the Office of Parks and Reserves and the Foundation for the Parks and Reserves of Côte d'Ivoire in order to improve monitoring capacities, management and preservation of the country's three national parks and forest reserves. We support the REDD+ programme and satellite-based land monitoring to combat deforestation. We also work with SODEFOR on the sustainable management of 92 classified forests.

Sustainable agricultural sectors

Côte d'Ivoire is not being spared the impacts of climate change. These impacts pose a threat to the population's food security and the export of agricultural produce. 

Through actions in irrigation, land, management consulting and health security, AFD promotes changes in agricultural practices and resource management, with positive impacts on the population.

In order to reinforce export sectors and crops, we have resurfaced over 5,000 km of rural roads and provided 10,000 pairs of oxen and harnesses for the cotton sector.

AFD's mandate in terms of governance is centred around three axes: economic and financial, institutional and civic, and territorial governance. We take action in three sectors: 

• Rule of law and justice: under the C2D, AFD is funding two projects to reinforce the judicial and penitentiary system and promote human rights. Among future plans: building infrastructures (courts, courts of appeal, prisons), training programmes, promoting human rights and supporting the Abidjan Commercial Court. 
• State reform and institutional support in order to prepare for decentralisation and strengthen the civil status system. 
• Public finance management: AFD promotes dialogue on public finance management (through C2D budgetary support). It also provides assistance to the Ivorian statistical system.

AFD supports the dynamism of Ivorian businesses and intends to ensure the viability of the microfinance sector. It thus promotes access to funding for SMEs and microfinance institutions (MFIs) thanks to ARIZ, a risk-sharing guarantee. The results are clear: since 2008, 550 SMEs have benefited from loans amounting to a total of €350m. 

In 2011, AFD helped two MFIs, MicroCred CI and Advans CI, to satisfy the demand for loans from artisans and informal microenterprises in cities. To boost the sector's supervision capacities, it supports the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. 
We also contribute to the implementation of a local investment fund to support SMEs through our support of the institution "Investisseurs & Partenaires en Côte d'Ivoire".

In order to promote "green" or social projects, AFD also provides loans to private companies. In 2015, we also implemented a credit line with the Société générale de banques en Côte d'Ivoire (SGBCI) to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. 

Proparco, our private sector subsidiary, is also present in Abidjan and, since 2008, has funded twelve energy, banking/insurance, agro-industry and infrastructure projects.