PFVT - Partenariat français pour la ville et les territoires

Promoting French expertise in urban development at international level

Presentation

Launched in June 2011 at the initiative of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, along with the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs (MEEM) and the Ministry of Sustainable Housing (MLHD), the PFVT gathers approximately one hundred organisations representing the diversity of French urban expertise.

It includes representatives of the State, public institutions, local authorities, professionals, businesses, academic partners and non-governmental organizations. The PFVT technical secretariat, in charge of implementing its activities, is coordinated by Expertise France.

The city, a leverage to build unit and inclusiveness among the societies

Based on this principle, the ambition of the PFVT is to meet the global challenges of sustainable urban development within the framework of development aid and exchanges with partner cities and countries.

Building a shared French vision

The PFVT develops French positions based on working groups -open to all its members and led by its technical secretariat- in international debate as well as recommendations for improving practices in the area of sustainable urban development.

Stimulating the participation of French actors in national or international events

Sustainable urban development constitutes a major issue, combining political and social challenges, as well as challenges relating to the fight against climate change and to economic growth.

Through the PFVT, France is mobilising by actively participating in the international debate: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in 2015 and Habitat III Conference in 2016. France is also mobilising the expertise of French stakeholders in collaboration with its partner countries and partner local territories.

Promoting French urban expertise at the international level

The PFVT's mission is to promote French urban expertise at the international level (capacity reinforcement, project management, support to the governance process, urban planning) while emphasising on promoting PFVT members know-how in conjunction with actions undertaken within the framework of economic diplomacy.

In this framework, the technical secretariat:

• organises meetings in conjunction with visits of foreign delegations, in liaison with embassies and economic services;
• promotes French expertise in response to requests from partners.