Agence Française de Développement and Fondation de France strengthen their cooperation
On September 8, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the leading public financial institution for international solidarity, and Fondation de France signed a third partnership agreement, extending a collaboration that began in 2018.
Established seven years ago, the non-financial partnership between AFD and Fondation de France aims to structure dialogue and concerted action in the field of international solidarity. Initially focused on post-emergency interventions, particularly following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, it has gradually expanded to include more global issues such as human rights, the environment, and agriculture.
This partnership with AFD also supports innovative initiatives such as the Metis Arts and Development Fund , hosted by AFD and supported in the U.S. by Friends of Fondation de France . Since 2021, Metis has leveraged the power of the arts to advance sustainable development, funding projects that engage local communities, artists, and development operators in over 35 countries to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges.
The 2022-2025 agreement has notably made it possible to initiate a joint support mechanism for overseas associations, marking a shift towards a more territorialized approach to solidarity.
The new 2025-2028 agreement focuses on three main areas: localization and territories, responses to crises and emergencies, and promoting partnership and solidarity. On the one hand, the matter of localization is approached from a new angle, strengthening the capacity to mobilize local resources. The aim is to facilitate links between funders and associations at the local, French, and international levels, particularly in Africa and overseas territories, while also exploring opportunities in Asia and Ukraine.
Secondly, through this partnership, AFD and Fondation de France wish to strengthen risk culture, particularly through training and awareness campaigns, to make their crisis responses more effective.
Finally, the agreement emphasizes providing tailored support to civil society organizations in a context of declining funding for associations. This renewed framework should help consolidate a mutual understanding of each party's roles and obligations, which is essential for addressing the growing challenges of international solidarity.
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