Africa

North Africa, the Mediterranean façade of the African continent, occupies a special place in AFD Group's work, reflecting the dense and diverse nature of France's relations with this region. In 2021, 10% of the Group’s global activity was in this region. AFD Group is fully committed to bilateral relations with countries in the region (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt), through its activities and thanks to its wide range of intervention tools. It helps them to achieve sustainable development trajectories in close cooperation with its partners.

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Stretching from the Atlantic coast to the eastern border of Chad, the Greater Sahel is characterized by a strong geographical coherence while presenting a variety of security, economic and social situations. As a high-priority region for AFD Group, the Greater Sahel requires a collective and adapted response that combines reducing fragility and improving equitable access to essential services. AFD Group works to prevent and respond to crises and support positive dynamics in the region within the framework of the Sahel Alliance’s G5 Sahel priorities. Its action covers nine countries: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Chad.

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As a gateway between the Sahel, the Lake Chad region and the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea is a demographic and economic "heavyweight" at the continental level. However, its dynamics are hampered by certain endogenous weaknesses. AFD Group, operating in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo, is supporting the region's momentum for prosperity and intends to help establish an inclusive, sustainable and participatory development process.

Find out more about the Gulf of Guinea Regional Office

At the heart of the African continent, Central Africa has a number of major assets: its young population, more than 120 million hectares of land useful for agriculture and agro-industry, and one of the most vital ecosystems for the planet in terms of water and forest resources, the Congo-Oubangui-Sangha basin. The seven countries of the region  (Cameroon, Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea) also face security, economic and societal challenges. AFD Group supports these countries in their efforts to achieve green and inclusive development.

Find out more about the Central Africa Regional Office

Bordering the Sahel and the Democratic Republic of Congo, East Africa is the most populous area in Africa. Although the region has seen the strongest economic growth on the continent over the last 20 years, it faces a variety of challenges, such as debt, inequality, food insecurity, climate change, and safety concerns. AFD Group’s activities, covering Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, aim to promote inclusive and sustainable prosperity in the region.

Find out more about the East Africa Regional Office

AFD's activities in Southern Africa cover ten countries on the border of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, from Angola to Mozambique, including two landlocked countries in South Africa: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Despite its disparities, Southern Africa has the highest GDP per capita in Africa and stable political systems. But it is also the most unequal region on the continent. AFD Group aims to encourage fair and sustainable transitions in the region while strengthening the link between Southern Africa and France.

Find out more about the Southern Africa Regional Office