AFD is a public financial institution that implements the bilateral cooperation policy defined by the French Government. It works to combat poverty and promote sustainable development. It finances and supports programs and projects in both public and private sectors: infrastructure and financial systems, urban and rural development, education and health, governance. AFD operates today on four continents over 60 developing countries and in all France’s Overseas Departments through a wide range of financial instruments that underwrite its activities: grants, subsidies, guarantees, loans, equity shareholdings, co-financing and local bank intermediation and market condition loans. It also contributes, in collaboration with its supervisory authorities, to the public policy design and France’s influence in the development world. AFD commits, in all its activities, to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, including economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

For more information: http://www.afd.fr/lang/en/home/AFD/presentation-afd

The missions of the MEAE are to:

• Summarize information on the changing global economy and put it into perspective, prepare decisions on the French government’s foreign policy;

• Draft France’s foreign policy;

• Coordinate France’s international relations; and

• Protect French interests abroad and assist French nationals outside France.

The establishment of the Directorate-General of Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships (DGM) in April 2008 as part of the reform of the Ministry, enables diplomacy to anticipate, identify and respond to the challenges of globalization more efficiently. The MEAE is notably in charge of defining and implementing development aid strategy, of which Aid for Trade is one component. Through the DGM, it aims to help foster a better regulated and more supportive global economy and to adapt the priorities of French development co-operation to the new international context. In addition to its leadership role in defining Aid for Trade, the MAE directly participates with financial support (FSP, operational credits) and by providing technical assistance to public administrations in the developing countries and international organizations. The MAE is the main supervisory authority of the AFD.

For more information: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/

ADECIA, the French public “Agency for the development of international cooperation in the areas of agriculture, food, and rural space” (ADECIA) was launched in July 2007 with the aim of coordinating the work of all the public-sector players in the agricultural community developing projects on international issues.

ADECIA has gained extensive experience in the program definition, funding, and managing of international actions both at the European level (building partnerships with other EU Ministries of Agriculture) and at the international level by participating in many technical assistance projects with the Balkans, Turkey and, more recently, several Mediterranean countries, as well as with Colombia, with Western African countries.

ADECIA’s focuses are to:

• Establish and enhance synergy between public-sector players to promote French public expertise;
• Provide project engineering support;
• Manage cooperation activities on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture; and
• Provide administrative and financial management for twinnings and technical assistance projects.