French Development Agency
The French Development Agency (French: Agence française de développement, AFD) is a public financial institution that implements the policy defined by the French Government. It works to fight poverty and promote sustainable development. This public institution is active in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and the French overseas territories, where it finances and supports projects that improve living conditions for populations, promote economic growth and protect the planet.
Native name | Agence française de développement |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public Industrial and Commercial Institution and Financial Institution |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Founder | Charles de Gaulle |
| Headquarters | 5 rue Roland-Barthes, Paris , France |
Key people | Rémy Rioux |
| Brands | Shaping Sustainable Futures |
| Services | Development assistance |
Number of employees | 3,000 (2020) |
| Subsidiaries | PROPARCO |
In 2014, AFD earmarked EUR 8.1 billion to finance projects in developing countries and for the French overseas territories, a commitment up by 4% compared to 2013. According to the OECD, France’s total ODA (USD 15.9 billion, preliminary data) increased in 2022, mostly due to an increase in aid to sub-Saharan Africa and in-donor refugee costs, representing 0.56% of gross national income (GNI). France is among the top providers of official development assistance (ODA) in volume, with a strong focus on Africa.
Its headquarters is located in Paris. Its teams are based in Paris, Marseille and in a network of 72 agencies and representations abroad and in the French overseas territories.