News
“There can be no Just Ecological Transition without Investment in Education”
How effective is education in tackling climate change? To mark International Day of Education on 24 January, we put the question to Bertrand Foucault, climate and nature specialist in AFD Group’s Educ...
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AFD, the NBA and Basketball in Africa: Four Points on Sports and Development
As legendary NBA teams the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons face off at Accor Arena in Paris on Thursday, it's a chance to recall the crucial role that sports can play as a veritable motor of sustain...
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Using Artificial Intelligence to Assess Progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals
ChatGPT seems to be taking the world by storm. Typing a few words of instruction can prompt the chatbot to pen essays, ad campaigns or even film scripts. (A Hollywood blockbuster written by a robot is...
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Cultural & Creative Entrepreneurs: Apply for Support via AFD's Digital Challenge
The call for projects for the sixth edition of the AFD Digital Challenge has been launched. This year, entrepreneurs who best combine cultural and creative industries on digital platforms in Africa wi...
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Sports & Development: Impact 2024 International Call for Projects
As sports are a powerful vehicle for development and social cohesion, AFD, in partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee, presents the winning projects from the...
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Ethiopia: Rebuilding Infrastructure Damaged by the Civil War
Emerging from two years of civil war ending in November 2022, Northern Ethiopia is now setting to work on its reconstruction. Beyond the heavy human toll, the cost of rebuilding essential energy infra...
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Improving Living Conditions in Kenya’s Informal Settlements
The rapidly growing populations of Kenya’s towns, cities and informal settlements have placed additional pressure on basic services, with many lacking access to basic water and electricity services. A...
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More Rwandan Public Services are going Digital with the support of AFD
Paper records and old computer networks in the health, education and environment sectors often make even the most basic transactions difficult and can prevent systems from operating efficiently. Digit...
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How AFD Group Aligns its Projects with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
From the provision of quality education to the restoration of ecosystems and the elimination of hunger, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals are ambitious, and serve as a kind of compass for AFD Gro...
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6 Development Highlights of 2022
Over the past year, the world has endured major geopolitical upheavals with vast repercussions, not least on food security. But the year also saw major international events where world leaders address...
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COP15: A Landmark Deal to Protect Biodiversity in 5 Points
The COP15 conference on biodiversity overcame fears of a failed summit and saw more than 190 countries approve a sweeping, last-minute deal to protect 30% of the planet’s land and seas by 2030. Beyond...
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AFD uses Strong Sustainability to Support Partners’ Transitions to Greener Development
Strong sustainability, the principle that our natural resources are critical and cannot be replaced by any other form of capital, is enjoying a resurgence in development thinking. It’s a riposte to th...
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“Strong Sustainability" for (truly) Sustainable Development
The more the term “sustainable development” is used, the less clear it appears to be. It can range from activities that preserve natural life, to actions that aim to improve environmental conditions,...
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Ecuador Prepares the Path to Decarbonization
Ecuador has begun work on a series of reforms aimed at decarbonizing its economy, and the country as a whole. With technical support from AFD, it is carrying out extensive cost-benefit analyses to det...
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AFD on side with World Cup Semi-Finalists, Morocco
The 2022 World Cup was marked by a number of upsets, with virtually unknown teams coming from out of nowhere to beat the favorites. Morocco was one such team, which, contrary to expectations, made it...
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France and Ethiopia conduct joint Scientific Operation to Restore the Ancient Churches of Lalibela
Since 2019, AFD has been supporting several actions to preserve and develop the ancient stone-carved Churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recently, a new proje...
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AFD Digital Energy Challenge: Boosting Energy Access across Africa through Innovation
The Digital Energy Challenge has awarded 10 start-ups and utility companies for coming up with some of the most innovative approaches to providing electricity in Africa. From “mini-grids” connecting o...
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Microfinance: a Boon for Entrepreneurs Excluded from Conventional Banking
Small businesses and entrepreneurs with few resources can find it extremely difficult to obtain loans and get off the ground. Microfinance however, can be a source of invaluable support. AFD Group ha...
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COP27: AFD Group’s Continuing Commitment to Biodiversity and the Climate
COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt ends on 18 November. The event was an occasion for AFD Group to present its continuing commitments to climate action and biodiversity protection around the world.
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Boosting Access to Renewable Energy across East Africa
East Africa is endowed with resources capable of generating vast amounts of renewable energy, such as wind, hydro and solar power. In Tanzania and Uganda though, this energy is largely untapped, and t...
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