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Three Oceans
To increase regional integration in France’s overseas territories and offer a global solution to cross-border issues, AFD adopted the Three Oceans strategy in 2019. This approach groups together overseas territories and neighboring foreign states in three geographical basins: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. The strategy aims to more effectively address the common challenges in these areas.
Context
Located in three oceans and on four continents, France’s overseas territories give it a reach that extends far beyond its mainland borders and a unique global presence. Alongside their neighbors, these territories are suffering from the effects of climate change and the unique challenges of small, isolated island economies.
In 2019, to effectively meet the specific needs of these territories and help them integrate into their regional basin, AFD adopted the Three Oceans strategy, in which the overseas territories form a bridge between France and their neighbors. With its unique, longstanding presence in these territories, AFD Group has the ambition of supporting their plans for sustainable development and helping strengthen their ties with their neighbors.
To develop concerted regional approaches in each of the oceanic basins where the overseas territories are located, the AFD Group network is organized into three regional divisions: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Each covers the overseas territories and countries within its regional basin. With this approach, AFD enhances the convergence of its overseas and international initiatives. It focuses its efforts on economic and social development and addressing common challenges (fighting climate change and inequalities).
In 2021, AFD Group committed € 1,4 billion to the Three Oceans.
Our approach
"AFD and three oceans: guiding the overseas territories toward a regional, ocean-centered future"
The Atlantic Ocean Regional Office covers sixteen Caribbean territories, including four overseas territories and three foreign countries, each with an agency or representative office: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Suriname. These territories facing major development challenges. The region is endowed with remarkable biodiversity, but is on the frontline of the effects of climate change and is characterized by strong economic, political and cultural disparities. AFD Group aims to promote regional development to bring territories together and help improve living conditions for populations.
Taking joint action to develop solutions for the benefit of everyone is a challenge shared by the territories of the Indian Ocean (Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands), which are aware that they belong to a community of economic, cultural and societal destinies. In order to promote regional cooperation dynamics in the Indian Ocean, AFD Group has enhanced its support capacities works closely with local and regional partnerships.
From Palau and Timor Leste to the easternmost islands of French Polynesia, bordered on the north by the Marshall Islands and in the south by New Zealand, the geographic scope of AFD in the Pacific covers eighteen countries and territories, including fifteen independent island countries and three French territories (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia). Countries and territories in the region, although geographically diverse, share common cross-border challenges, which means that development should be viewed through a regional lens to facilitate dialogue between the territories and help improve living conditions for local populations. Thanks to its network, The Pacific Ocean Regional Office supports cooperation activities with the aim of pooling resources, limiting the spillover of negative externalities from one territory to the next, and sharing expertise on topics of common interest.
In the field
Projects
Publications & Media
Key figures
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39 territories covered, including 12 French overseas departments and territories
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€8.5 BN in 2023 Total amount for ongoing projects
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58 regional projects since 2018, with 48 involving French Overseas Territories