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Working by your side
AFD Group has reaffirmed its focus on regional realities, its respect for partners, and its geographical intelligence. Over the 2025-2030 period, AFD Group is committed to basing action on an in-depth understanding of regional dynamics and the political economy, and to adapting action to the specific needs of countries and territories.
Seeing the world differently through our partners’ eyes. By placing itself alongside others, AFD Group reinforces the relevance and impact of its work by incorporating the needs, constraints, cultures, and know-how of the countries and regions where it operates.
In its role to serve people, AFD Group is committed to listening and respecting its partners. AFD Group applies a three-dimensional approach to continually improve how it helps its partners:
Respect, geographical intelligence, and dialogue as a method
AFD Group adapts the tools and approaches it uses to the development trajectories of each country. Its network of 85 field offices and 17 regional offices in 167 countries and 12 French Overseas Territories fosters an in-depth understanding of local realities. Our geographical intelligence consists mainly of dialogue with public authorities, international relations think tanks, and civil society organizations.
Dedicated instruments have been used in crisis situations (wars, conflicts, the pandemic, weather events) for the past 10 years. The Minka Peace and Resilience Fund and the work of Expertise France, with funding from the Crisis and Support Center (CDCS) of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, make it possible to devise rapid and context-appropriate responses. Such intervention is based on an assessment of local – and often multidimensional – vulnerabilities and involves institutional, humanitarian, and European stakeholders.
In addition to crisis responses, AFD Group offers public policy dialogue, a combination of research and modeling, budget financing, and appropriate technical support that can pave the way for future projects. This distinctive offer takes the bilateral relationship between partner countries and France to a higher level. It is also deployed to support strong sustainability trajectories, including in the French Overseas Territories, as part of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), and in efforts to reduce inequalities.
A differentiated approach based on three geographic mandates
Under the Programming Act of 2021, AFD Group has three intervention mandates: the least developed and vulnerable countries, middle-income countries, and the French Overseas Territories. As a result of this new structure, responses need to suit geographical realities to an even higher degree.
These countries, marked by fragile economic, political, social, and environmental situations, receive most of our grants. The goal is twofold: reduce inequalities and build structural capacity in healthcare, education, employment, sustainable infrastructure, and food sovereignty. AFD Group also facilitates access to financing and monitors the sustainability of indebtedness.
50 % At least
of AFD Group financial resources are dedicated to the least developed countries.
The demographic and economic weight of these countries make them key players in the global transition. The focus in these countries is on expertise, consulting, and dialogue to support low-carbon, fair, and sustainable development trajectories. These orientations are outlined in our country strategies.
The French Overseas Territories present economic, social, and climate vulnerabilities as well as opportunities and as such are strategic areas. AFD Group views them as priorities and organizes its action according to three major ocean basins – Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific – to enhance their regional integration and cooperation with neighbors. This is known as the “Three Oceans” approach.
The Three Oceans approach to promote regional cooperation
AFD Group’s “Three Oceans” approach, based on the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific basins, fosters regional coherence and integration between French Overseas Territories and neighboring countries. In the Indo-Pacific region, it supports climate resilience for small island developing states and reinforces alliances for biodiversity and maritime safety. In Latin America, AFD Group coordinates efforts by France, Europe, and countries in the region to achieve common goals such as protecting the Amazon forest and developing the Guiana Shield. This cross-cutting approach reinforces AFD Group’s geopolitical and environmental influence on the international stage.
Actions adapted to broad geopolitical areas
AFD Group works in broad geographical areas in line with French and European diplomatic priorities.
In Africa, AFD Group is a strategic stakeholder in renewing relationships with the continent by mobilizing all its instruments and offers for the benefit of sustainable infrastructure, economic and social development, resilient agriculture, the financing of the SDGs, and human development. Efforts focus on strengthening projects centered on young people, civil society, and diasporas, as well as initiatives on sports, culture, and entrepreneurship.
In agreement with local authorities, AFD Group invests in African innovation and entrepreneurship via the Choose Africa 2 initiative and work to improve human and public security with Expertise France in line with priorities set by the DAC and OECD.
AFD Group is active in 12 countries of the European Political Community (EPC) and is stepping up its presence in neighboring countries that are candidates for accession to support sustainable economic, social, and environmental trajectories. With a stronger partnership spirit, we work closely with European institutions (EBRD, EIB, JEFIC) and technical agencies in the Practitioners’ Network.
In the Indo-Pacific region – which accounts for a quarter of its commitments – AFD Group focuses on preserving the world’s common goods, like biodiversity and maritime safety, based on respect for international law and multilateralism. AFD Group supports the development trajectories of island states using the “Three Oceans” approach.
AFD Group is a key partner in efforts to build a new pact of trust between Europe and Latin America and has worked in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Bolivia since 2007 in the areas of ecological transition, social justice, and access to rights. The “Three Oceans” approach enhances cooperation in the Guiana Shield area from our offices in French Guiana and Suriname and contributes to the preservation of the Amazon, the fight against illegal trafficking, and the improvement of the living conditions of Indigenous populations.
