Southern Africa Regional Office

La direction régionale Afrique australe, basée à Johannesbourg, couvre dix pays de la région : Afrique du Sud, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibie, Zambie et Zimbabwe. — © Cyril Le Tourneur d'Ison

AFD’s activities in Southern Africa span ten countries bordering the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, from Angola to Mozambique. The subregion includes several of the highest-income economies in sub-Saharan Africa and historically stable political systems. But it is also the most unequal region on the continent and highly vulnerable to climate change. In this context, AFD Group works to support a fair and sustainable energy transition, reduce inequalities and strengthen partnerships between Southern Africa and France.

Strategy

Southern Africa includes some of the continent’s wealthiest countries in terms of GDP per capita, driven in part by mineral wealth and diversified industrial sectors. The region is also rich in biodiversity and natural resources, and South Africa remains its main economic hub.

Yet Southern Africa remains the most unequal region in Africa, and among the most unequal in the world, with sharp disparities in wealth, housing, and access to jobs. Persistent inequality, rapid urbanization, and high youth unemployment make faster social and economic transformation an urgent priority.

Southern Africa is also highly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, recurring droughts, and growing water insecurity are affecting agriculture and energy systems alike. As a result, the shift toward cleaner energy is gaining pace, driven by climate finance, regional reforms, and the need to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of energy systems.

Our approach

AFD Group supports Southern Africa in addressing shared regional challenges, with a particular focus on climate change, the preservation and management of natural resources, reducing inequality, and promoting more balanced growth.

As part of its 100% Paris Agreement commitment, AFD Group supports low-carbon and resilient development in the region. In this way, it supports the energy transition of Southern African countries by promoting the development of renewable energies and encouraging the reduction of fossil fuel consumption. In order to improve the resilience of populations, we are strengthening our actions in favor of the sustainable management of natural resources, in particular water and biodiversity.

AFD Group supports local stakeholders in order to achieve more balanced territorial development that allows for better integration of disadvantaged populations and reduces inequalities by promoting access to housing, infrastructure and employment.

We work closely with three countries in the region (Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe) to structure sustainable agri-food chains that create decent jobs in rural areas.

As part of its 100% Social Link commitment, AFD Group also seeks to develop its work in sport and culture. The aim is to mobilize young people and promote integration, gender equality and openness to the world.

AFD Group intends to continue supporting the private sector, which generates 70% of regional GDP. Through the initiatives of Choose Africa and Choose Africa Resilience, the Group will provide more financing solutions for African SMEs and French companies abroad.

It also contributes to the strengthening of financial markets, notably through the development of climate finance through its partnership with DBSA. This cooperation aims to strengthen the capacity of local banks to finance "green" or social impact projects (especially for women's empowerment,) to create leverage for a more environmentally friendly private sector, and to support employment.