Fostering inclusion and the sustainability of the economy - Our work and impact

Our work focuses on strategic priorities that can produce significant and lasting improvements in living conditions in our partner countries. These priorities contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are based on clear trends:

• Since 1990, global trade has increased incomes by 24% overall and by 50% for the poorest 40% of the global population
• Artificial intelligence (AI) could help achieve 79% of the SDGs' targets
• In OECD countries, SMEs account for approximately 99% of businesses, serving as key employment drivers and generating 50 to 60% of value added
• According to UNESCO, the cultural and creative industries account for 3.1% of global GDP and create over 50 million jobs

Our actions support these trends by strengthening the capacities of our partner countries and encouraging the emergence of sustainable economies at local, national and regional levels.

1. Entrepreneurship

We work on the ground to help strengthen the economies of our partners by supporting business networks through projects that focus on three main aspects: organise and strengthen entrepreneurship networks, foster enabling environments for entrepreneurship, and support entrepreneurship within diasporas.

We align with French, European and international priorities, including the Presidential Council for International Partnerships and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. We place a particular emphasis on initiatives in digital, green, cultural and women’s entrepreneurship.

2. Innovation

Innovation is a core component of economic development. We work on five key challenges: artificial intelligence; geospatial technology; the green transition and digital transformation; open innovation and public-private partnerships; and strengthening innovation capacities in our partner countries.

We actively support French and European priorities in terms of innovation strategies by promoting digitalisation, implementing effective climate and green innovations, supporting co-innovation, educating decision-makers about technology and innovation issues, and fostering regulatory frameworks that enable innovation.

3. Trade facilitation and commerce

Our work to facilitate trade focuses on four key pillars: improve the business climate; strengthen the trade capacities of our partner countries; promote economic and regional integration (e.g., international trade agreements, trade corridors); and foster investment and public-private partnerships.

We also support development banks, which play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

4. Economic financing

We promote economic financing as a fundamental driver of sustainable economic growth and to reduce inequality by strengthening the financial systems of our partner countries. Our focus areas include financing for the green economy, socially responsible investments, investments involving diasporas, and improved financing conditions for SMEs.

This work revolves around four action pillars. These are to implement policies and tools to facilitate financing, support institutional investment practices, establish access-to-finance mechanisms, and develop financial education and literacy.

5. Culture, heritage and creative industries

We support the development of cultural and creative industries and the preservation of heritage in our partner countries. Our work spans three main areas: museum cooperation, heritage conservation and promotion, and support for cultural and creative industries.

Our action is aligned with the French Ministry of Culture and directly contributes to SDG 11, which seeks to enhance global efforts to safeguard cultural and natural heritage.

6. Sport

As a powerful development and growth catalyst, sport also serves as a strong driver of the sustainability of the economy. We have developed a multidisciplinary approach to reinforce the capacities of sports stakeholders at local, national and regional levels in our partner countries. Our work focuses on seven themes: public sports policies, sports infrastructure, sports and community organisations, sports entrepreneurship, urban cultures, e-sports, and sustainable sport.

Our work aligns with the strategy of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group. We carry out 160 “Sport & Development” projects, totalling nearly €200 million in funding allocations from 2019 to 2023. These projects have impacted almost 2 million people – 90% of whom are young people and 58% women.