AFD Group: maximizing impact in 2024

According to a Toluna Harris Interactive survey conducted in April 2025, two thirds of French people support France’s international development policy, and 78% have a positive view of AFD Group and its mission to address major global challenges. In a world facing economic, environmental, and financial uncertainty, development action is seen as a key strategy for shared prosperity and a safer world.

Download AFD Group’s full annual report or the summary

An economic model with major leverage

AFD Group contributes to this mission, backed by its 5,500 employees, €13.7 billion in financing activity in 2024 and lean, multi-impact economic model. With €2 billion in budgetary credits allocated by the French government and €900 million in EU-delegated funds, AFD Group increased its financing capacity more than sixfold. In addition to AFD Group’s activity of €13.7 billion, €12 billion in financing was invested by its partners.

See also: Where does AFD Group's global investment money come from?

A new Strategic Orientation Plan 

“Ten years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, I am proud that AFD continues, once again this year, to meet its objectives for impact and effectiveness. To uphold this ambition, AFD Group has adopted a new strategic framework through to 2030. This framework supports a renewal of development policy by shifting from an aid-based approach to one centered on solidarity and sustainable investment.

For a world in common, and in the interest of our fellow citizens!” — Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer, AFD Group

This move towards solidarity-based and sustainable investment, an integral part of the Group’s new Strategic Orientation Plan (POS V), is aligned with its dual mandate from the French government and Parliament, and the policy set out by the French Presidential Council for International Partnerships (CPPI) in April 2025: to support the most vulnerable communities, especially in crisis-hit countries; and advance the sustainable transition, particularly in emerging countries. 

See also: Evaluation informing the debate on solidarity-based investment

80% of projects involve at least one French organization

By financing and sharing innovative projects that are emerging all over the world, AFD Group unites the interests of the French people with those of its partners, based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 80% of projects financed by AFD involve at least one French organization, with French companies winning nearly 50% of contracts, generating €8 billion in economic spin-offs. 

In addition, many projects financed by AFD Group are inspiring initiatives in France. For example, the French Ministry of Justice is interested in replicating a fencing program to rehabilitate young offenders, which has been underway in Senegal since 2015. Another example: in Benin, the Tazco project, based on restoring soil fertility to improve agricultural yields, could prove useful in France’s efforts to combat climate change.

In 2024, the AFD Group confirmed its leadership position on climate action as the first development bank to be aligned with the Paris Agreement: €7.7 billion in financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation (+3% compared with 2023). Support for global biodiversity amounted to €1.2 billion, with 110 ocean projects totaling €964 million. France is also hosting the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025, thus further cementing its reputation for excellence in marine protection.

See also: Corporate Social Responsibility and Activity Report

€6 billion to support Africa

Africa remains a key priority for the Group, where it committed €6 billion in financing in 2024, across all sectors, an 8% increase from 2023. AFD also granted €368 million to combat malnutrition between 2021 and 2024. AFD Group continues to support vulnerable communities, like in Burundi and Kenya, as part of a food security program across nine African countries.

To make the shift from an aid-based approach to one focused on solidarity and sustainable investment a reality, a new strategic framework will be proposed ahead of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to be held in Seville, from June 30 to July 3, followed by the G20 in November in South Africa on the just energy transition. There are also plans to set a new objective at COP30 in Belém: increase financing from $300 billion to $1,300 billion to meet climate needs and ensure all financial flows are aligned with climate targets.

Key figures on AFD’s Group activity in 2024: 

• €13.7 billion in commitments
• 1,250 new projects and 4,000 in progress
• 160 countries of operation and 12 French Overseas Territories
• €7.7 billion in financing for climate action 

Some of the concrete impacts of AFD operations in 2024: 

• 7.4 million people with improved access to health care
• 1.5 million people now have access to safe, clean drinking water
• 1 million people have better access to transport networks

View AFD Group’s full annual report or the summary