French Polynesia

Isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, geographic dispersion of the 118 islands and atolls in an archipelago the size of Europe, and concentration of the population on Tahiti in contrast with low population densities in the other archipelagos. With such a geography, harmonious spatial development is a major challenge.

Polynesian local authorities are key actors in social and territorial cohesion. AFD supports them by financing the acquisition of equipment and the construction of essential amenities. It also provides soft assistance for their financial planning and the development of their projects. In addition, the Observatory of the Commons, which is published annually by AFD, is a decision-making tool available to elected officials and the public sphere. AFD supports Polynesia with its objectives of territorial continuity and opening up the islands. It focuses on the following sectors:

• Digital technologies by financing undersea digital cables to connect remote islands to broadband (Marquesas and Tuamotu-Gambier Islands with the Natitua cable)
• Health by financing the renewal of part of Air Archipels’ fleet for medical evacuations. The Covid-19 crisis has challenged Polynesia’s social protection and medical contract and its economic balance, which was already under pressure from the major societal changes at work.

In addition to financing infrastructure, AFD helps structure public health policies, in particular by assisting the universal social protection reform and the development of a master plan for social and medical-social action.

To support structuring projects and stimulate the local economy and employment, AFD mobilizes its tools for Polynesia’s private sector. It operates through co-financing with banks to support strategic projects for the economic development of the territory in sectors such as tourism, transport and energy.

AFD is also a shareholder and director of several companies that contribute to a general interest mission: SOCREDO, an innovative and inclusive bank working for sustainable development; Air Tahiti, which ensures intra-island territorial continuity; and Aéroport de Tahiti, the manager of Tahiti Faa’a Airport and the aerodromes in Bora Bora, Raiatea and Rangiroa. Through its subsidiary SOGEFOM, AFD contributes to the dynamism of Polynesian entrepreneurship by guaranteeing the loans allocated to MSMEs by local banks: 70% of the loans allocated to small businesses by the three local banks are guaranteed by SOGEFOM.

We also support entrepreneurship and innovation through our support to ADIE and the Mouv’Outremer mechanism, which offers action learning diploma courses to Polynesian operators to assist them with the implementation of their projects for the sustainable economic development of the territory.

In line with its 100% Paris Agreement mandate and French Polynesia’s commitment to achieve 75% of renewable energies in its energy mix by 2030, AFD assists public and private operators working for the territory’s energy transition.

In terms of climate change mitigation, AFD assists project initiators in green energies, transport, energy management and energy efficiency by financing studies and investments. For example, we have contributed to financing French Polynesia’s first bioclimate building, Papetoai Primary School, which allows the 300 pupils to benefit from optimal conditions in a facility almost full energy self-sufficient.

AFD also deploys technical, legal and financial assistance for local authorities for the implementation of energy public policies. In terms of climate change adaptation, AFD is present at both the local level by financing cyclone shelters in municipalities, and regional level via the CLIPSSA project, which aims to produce data on the future climate in order identify the vulnerabilities of South Pacific territories and facilitate the development of adaptation strategies.