Corporate Social Responsability & Activity REPORT 2023
Interview
« Working together is the key, and our fellow citizens confirm it loud and clear. »
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AFD Group
A Group
committed
to the SDGs
COHERENT ACTION IN FAVOR OF THE SDGs
On 25 September 2015, the 193 Member States of the UN unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This "2030 Agenda" aims to transform our world, for people, for the planet, for prosperity, for peace and through partnerships. It has 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), which set targets to be achieved in every area of sustainable development.
The SDGs set out the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequalities, climate change, loss of biodiversity and resolving conflicts. As a Member State of the UN, France is committed to achieving the SDGs in its territory and contributing to the global effort to achieve them, and has assigned part of this mission to AFD Group.
AFD does not just contribute to the SDGs; it also takes care not to undermine any of them. For this purpose, it draws on its sustainable development analysis and advice system in order to review its entire portfolio in terms of its impacts. You will find a review of this system in this document.
Learn moreAFD GROUP DEVELOPMENT RESULTS IN 2022
poverty
hunger
and well-being
education
equality
and sanitation
clean energy
economic growth
and infrastructure
inequalities
and communities
consumption
and production
action
water
on land
and strong
institutions
for the goals
Contribution to the SDGs
Investment authorizations 2022 in € millions
AFD Group has developed a specific
methodology to calculate the contribution of its financial investments to the SDGs: for
each financing operation, the SDGs targeted are identified based on the project's
characteristics and expected impacts; the amount of financing is considered to
contribute equally to each of these SDGs.
The total amount of the contributions to
the SDGs is not a real or realistic measurement, as it goes well beyond the total amount
of the Group's investments. However, it enables us to visualize how the efforts are
concentrated for each SDG.
People
100% social link, acting for people
poverty
Hunger
Flagship
initiative
Acument Resilient Agriculture Fund
-
EAST AND WEST AFRICA
-
FISEA+ FINANCING: >€4.5 MILLION
-
Since 2021
What is the goal?
The Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) is financed by several partners and development financing institutions, through the FISEA+ facility. It is focused on the issue of food security and invests in start-ups that offer innovative solutions to help small farmers in East and West Africa to adapt to climate change.
« Small farmers feed the world, but they are amongst the hardest hit by the
climate crisis. »
Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director, ARAF
and well-being
Education
Equality
What is the DAC gender marker?
AFD Group's projects are analyzed systematically regarding gender issues. A grading system based on the OECD DAC marker has been implemented.
- - DAC0: the project does not target gender equality.
- - DAC1: gender equality is an important and deliberate objective of the project.
- - DAC2: gender equality is the main objective of the project.
All AFD projects are given a DAC score. In 2022, 61.1% of them were marked DAC1 or DAC2, well above the target of 50%.
and sanitation
inequalities
Flagship
initiative
Pour elles
-
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
-
€12M GRANT
-
SINCE 2022
What is the goal?
Disproving stereotypes! The "Pour elles" project promotes the economic empowerment of women in the DRC by strengthening and structuring publicprivate players in the female entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides financial and technical support to companies led by women in Kinshasa, Kikwit and Bukavu.
What are the results?
- More than 1,200 women entrepreneurs will be supported for four years;
- Public-private players from Congo involved in women's entrepreneurship will receive
support to improve their services for women entrepreneurs;
- Success stories featuring women entrepreneurs will be promoted to raise awareness and
provide role models to other women.
Planet
100% PARIS AGREEMENT, ACTING FOR THE PLANET
clean energy
and communities
Action
How does AFD Group measure the carbon footprint of its operations?
The Group reports on the carbon impact of its portfolio in the food processing, forestry, transport, energy, water and sanitation, buildings, and waste processing sectors.
It calculates the emissions of the projects financed over the year by distinguishing between:
- - absolute emissions, i.e. the amount of emissions induced by all the projects without taking into account the reference scenario;
- - relative emissions, i.e. the sum of the carbon footprints of all the projects;
- - emissions avoided, i.e. the specific contribution of the projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2022
Absolute emissions
7,4 MtCO2eq*
Relative emissions
- 9,7 MtCO2eq
Emissions avoided
- 10,5 MtCO2eq
By way of comparison, greenhouse gas emissions in France would reach 408 MtCO2eq in 2022 (excluding imported emissions), according to the forecasts established by Citepa.
* Millions of tons of CO2 equivalent
below water
on Land
Flagship
Initiative
Clean Oceans
-
MULTIPLE COUNTRIES
-
FINANCING OF €4 BILLION IN PROJECTS BY THE END OF 2025
What is the goal?
Clean Oceans is the biggest partnership initiative dedicated to reducing plastic pollution in oceans. Launched five years ago by the European Investment Bank, in collaboration with AFD and KfW, it supports projects aimed at treating or recycling plastic waste in coastal areas. Every year, 12 million tons of garbage ends up in the sea.
What projects are financed?
- Managing and recycling plastic waste in the countries of the Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS), of which Guadeloupe and Martinique are associate members;
- Managing waste in the coastal town of Lomé, Togo;
- Improving the sanitation infrastructure in Buenos Aires, Argentina;
- Cleaning up sailing routes from the center of China;
- Managing wastewater in Alexandria, Egypt;
- Managing rainwater and protecting against flooding in Cotonou, Benin, etc.
Peace
DIPLOMACY, DEFENSE, DEVELOPMENT ACTING FOR PEACE IN 3D
and strong
institutions
Flagship
initiative
Qarib
-
JORDAN, LEBANON, IRAQ, PALESTINE
-
€10 MILLION IN FINANCING
-
Since 2020
What is the goal?
Qarib, which means "close" in Arabic, is helping to combat misinformation in four Middle Eastern countries. By strengthening independent media and developing media coverage, the project encourages social cohesion and the inclusion of populations, particularly women, in society and the public debate. A flagship project for the Minka Fund, Qarib is implemented by CFI, the French media development agency.
What are the levers for action?
- Supporting local journalism and investigation
- Sharing and disseminating good journalistic practices
- Media education actions
- Stimulating public debate about the role of journalists in societies, etc.
Partnerships
THE PARTNERSHIP REFLEX, WORKING WITH OTHERS TO ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT
for the goals
What is FICOL?
AFD is convinced that development decisions taken at a local level are highly efficient and, in 2014, set up the French local authorities financing facility (FICOL).
This tool offers an effective response to the increasing demand for French regional expertise in the countries where AFD works, and encourages interactions among peers, to implement the sustainable development goals.
It serves to fund development projects identified and implemented by local authorities (regions, departments, towns, municipalities, etc.), for the benefit of a partner foreign authority in a developing country. The projects cover all of the sectors in which AFD operates, and correspond to the areas of competence of French local authorities, both in terms of investment and public policy. The amount granted by AFD ranges from €200,000 to €2 million, and can represent up to 70% of the project budget.
Flagship
initiative
Samim
-
TUNISIA AND MAURITANIA, MOROCCO,
JORDAN
-
€3 MILLION GRANT
-
Since 2022
What is the goal?
AFD supports the Samim project (encouraging partnerships in the Mediterranean region) from the French social and solidarity economy think tank Lab'ess. Founded by the SOS Group and a member of the Pulse network, this Tunisian incubator assists associations founded by – and working for – young people in countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. Samim, the first program undertaken by a local Tunisian CSO, will provide financial and technical support for innovative and inclusive projects implemented by young people under 35 on the theme of sustainable cities.
« The Samim project is a challenge for all the stakeholders. It represents a
new challenge, since we will be acting in a South-South configuration rather than a
North-South one. »
Rachid Abidi, Director of Lab’ess
EXPERTISE FRANCE, A KEY PARTICIPANT IN INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL COOPERATION
Expertise France joined AFD Group on 1 January 2022. 2022 confirmed the dynamism of Expertise France's (EF) business model, with a 5% revenue growth to €341 million. At the end of 2022, Expertise France had 350 projects in progress, in over one hundred countries.
Building on its experience in many sectors, Expertise France is continuing its commitment to the SDGs in 2022. The breakdown of activites by theme remains consistent with the agency's priorities: peace, stability and security (29%), health (18%) economic and financial governance (12%), governance, justice and human rights (10%) and human capital, social development (9%).
EXPERTISE FRANCE IN 2022
625
EMPLOYEES AT HEADQUARTERS
341
€341 million IN REVENUE, FOR A BALANCED RESULT OF €1.5 MILLION.
175
NEW PROJECTS 
920
WORKERS IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING 441 EXPERTS
383
€383 million IN PROJECTS SIGNED, OUT OF A TOTAL €455.8 MILLION
220
INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL EXPERTS (ITEs) DEPLOYED IN THE FIELD, AN INCREASE OF 50% COMPARED TO 2021 
380
PROJECTS UNDER WAY IN 100 COUNTRIES 
63%
OF THE PROJECTS SIGNED CONCERN AFRICA
100,000
PERSON-DAYS OF EXPERTISE MOBILIZED IN 2022 Prosperity
DECENT WORK, SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION, ACTING FOR PROSPERITY
economic growth
and infrastructure
consumption
and production
Flagship
initiative
Annapurna
-
India
-
€13.7 MILLION CONTRIBUTION
-
Since 2022
What is the goal?
In 2022, Proparco contributed €13.7 million to a fundraising initiative by Annapurna Finance, one of the biggest micro-finance institutions in India. Annapurna offers microcredit facilities, and loans for individuals, small businesses and for home improvement. The funding round should enable it to further develop its portfolio of loans, invest in new technologies and extend its area of activity.
What are the contributions to the SDGs?
More than 2.3 million customers, 99% of which are women, are already assisted by Annapurna Finance. Its goal is to support 4 million women who are outside formal banking systems by 2027.
Bringing our
organization into
line with the SDGs
AFD Group's Corporate Social Responsibility
AFD Group strives to adopt best practices in its activities.
For more than fifteen years, our approach to social responsibility has allowed us to meet the applicable social, environmental, ethical and human rights-related requirements, fight corruption, and offer transparency. Moreover, the Group is resolutely committed to applying the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.
In 2022, AFD Group updated the list of extra-financial issues and questioned its main stakeholders to assess their importance. Among the priority issues, there is a clear predominance of governance issues relating to the Group's financial management and respect for planetary boundaries, as well as issues relating to operations. Those relating to the internal functioning of the Group are, quite logically, valued higher by internal stakeholders.
Learn more
Developing
sustainable finance
for the goals
Action
In the sphere of sustainable bonds, AFD Group was the first French public sector issuer of a green, climate-focused bond in 2014, before adopting a climate emissions program framework and continuing its policy of regularly issuing climate bonds. In 2020, the Group took a new step forward on this issue, with the publication of a renewed program framework focused on the SDGs, naturally following the four pillars of the “Green Bond Principles & Social Bond Principles". It gives AFD the possibility of issuing three types of bonds: sustainable, climate and social. In 2022, AFD Group issued €4.5 billion in sustainable bonds, i.e. 47% of its refinancing program.
ALIGNING OUR FINANCING WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
AFD has a "Sustainable Development Analysis and Opinion" mechanism (" Analyse et Avis Développement Durable" - AADD). It is aimed at enhancing how sustainable development is taken into account in the projects financed, and ensuring that they contribute fully to the SDGs.
216 sustainable development opinions were issued in 2022, for transactions totaling €8.18 billion, or 87% of the year's financing.
67% of the projets received a positive opinion or a sustainable development approval.
29% of the projects were granted a favorable opinion with recommendations.
4% of projects received a reserved opinion. No negative opinions were issued.
Acting for gender equality,
diversity and inclusion
Equality
economic growth
inequalities
AFD increases its targets in terms of women engineer recruitment and expatriation. In addition to maintaining its previous commitments, AFD innovates by setting up a support system for family carers. The "Recruiting without discriminating" training is compulsory for managers.
Controlling AFD group's
carbon footprint
and communities
consumption
and production
Action
Within AFD Group and its value chain, the low-carbon trajectory is applied through operational measures to reduce the impact of its activity. The Group is committed to controlling its direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by simultaneously reducing them and offsetting them through actions that contribute to the SDGs. An annual carbon footprint assessment serves to identify our strengths and weaknesses.
Towards a low-carbon
trajectory
and communities
consumption
and production
Action
With regard to GHG emissions, a global approach, in the form of a low-carbon trajectory, was launched at the end of 2020 to define the strategies and action plans to be adopted in order to further enhance AFD Group's exemplarity in terms of the practices already in place. The energy efficiency of the company's real estate was improved by optimizing uses and using renewable energy sources. A special effort was made to promote soft mobility.
ACCOUNTS
Marie Chevalier, IT Officer, and Raphaël Mounier, Head of the Integration and
Application Architecture at AFD
“The Green IT collective identifies actions that can be implemented to reduce the environmental impacts of AFD's use of digital tech”
“
The "Green IT" working group for "responsible digital" was set up in July 2021 as part
of AFD's low-carbon trajectory project.
Our starting point was the observation
that
digital technology, now an essential part of personal and professional daily life, can
have harmful effects when used inappropriately: pollution, waste production, excessive
energy consumption.
This gave rise to the Green IT collective. It comprises more than ten volunteers from AFD's IT Systems Department, who meet every month.
Their task is to identify actions that can be taken to reduce the environmental impacts of digital tech at AFD, monitor the action plan's deployment, and communicate on this issue. The actions are varied and cover the entire life cycle of computer hardware, from the purchase of equipment to the end of its life.
A "Green IT" community is therefore active via the Group's in-house social media. It allows us to share our initiatives and actions, and brings together colleagues from AFD headquarters as well as from its agencies and regional offices. And we are always open to new ideas to contribute and act together for a more sustainable world!”
Promoting responsible
purchasing
economic growth
consumption
and production
Action
AFD Group has chosen responsible purchasing as one of the three major strategies of its new purchasing policy. It is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its purchases, enhancing its social responsibility, and supporting local development. The Group is committed to an exemplary purchasing policy.
Promoting the local
anchoring of our sites
Education
inequalities
and communities
In November 2022, AFD reaffirmed its commitments to fight climate change at a territorial level by signing the Paris Climate Biodiversity Action Pact with the City of Paris. In this respect, it has entered into a partnership with the City of Paris and other public institutions (Caisse des dépôts et consignations, RATP, SNCF, etc.) and private companies (Kering, Natixis, etc.). The new pact mobilizes players from the Paris area to serve local ecological transition actions.
Examples of solidarity initiatives in regions where the group operates
La Jetée
The Conakry AFD office rallied round – along with 400 other volunteers – to clean "La Jetée" beach, in one of the residential districts of the capital. More than 300 tons of waste and 150 m3 of recyclable materials were collected.
Clean Hike Together
This ecoresponsible hike, which combines walking and collecting waste, brought together Jordanian volunteers, AFD employees and their families in the Wasfi al Tall Forest, south of Amman. The 95 participants picked up over one hundred bags of waste during their hike, which was co-organized by AFD in Amman, and TreksJo, a Jordanian hiking association. The event sought to raise awareness about the devastating effects of pollution, while emphasizing the importance of exercise.
Move & Give
Solidarity initiatives at company headquarters and in offices abroad are part of the Group's desire to work with the communities where it operates. In France and abroad, more than 450 employees answered present at AFD, Proparco and Expertise France for the Move & Give challenge. This challenge aims to promote sporting activities in support of a good cause: the equivalent of 45,500 kilometers were covered and €20,000 donated to the Surfrider Foundation Europe to finance "blue breakaway" vacations for 8-14 year-olds at leisure centers.
« The Delhi office made a great effort for the Move & Give challenge!
Most colleagues played the game by downloading the app, and a number of
initiatives were taken, including a table tennis competition, team running (59
km run by ten people), and an online yoga lesson. Doing an activity brings us
closer together and, after enduring the severe effects of Covid in India, it's
good to enjoy these occasions for combining effort and fun once more, and all
for a good cause. This challenge is nothing but positive! »
Lucas Pizzini, international volunteer at the Proparco office in New
Delhi.
One Step No Plastic
To counter the proliferation of plastic in Cambodia, the AFD office in Phnom Penh took part in the "One Step No Plastic" operation, organized for the first time on 26 November in the country's capital. AFD was an official partner for the operation. Over ten colleagues and their friends and families helped to collect 10 tons of plastic waste, some of which was recyclable. The recyclable plastics will be transformed into ecobricks, an ecological building material.
« This event inspired me to do more at the office, for example by
respecting the 4R rule (refuse, re-use, recycle, reduce), sorting my waste
better, recycling batteries, and limiting the use of plastics. »
Channita Ouk, Head of Administrative Management and Payroll at the AFD office
in Phnom Penh.
Hanvie
AFD office in Nouméa worked with the NGO ”Hanvie” to upcycle old advertising banners to make wallets. Hanvie is a charitable NGO that supports disabled people seeking to enter the job market by making upcycled products.
Key figures
for 2022
UPDATE ON AFD GROUP'S FINANCING
For the first year of Expertise France's integration, and in an international context disrupted by the consequences of the war in Ukraine, AFD Group signed €12.3 billion worth of new financing in 20221, and paid out €9 billion.
AFD Group helped to take France's development policy to a historic level. The Group's subsidiaries made a great contribution to these results. With €2.3 billion engaged, half of which in Africa, Proparco notably supported the Choose Africa initiative. Created in 2015, Expertise France, with nearly €400 million in projects signed in 2022, has tripled in size since it was founded.
AFD group projects signed
in foreign countries and overseas
in € millions
2022 - First year for Expertise France as part of AFD Group.
THE FINANCING ACTIVITY OF AFD AND PROPARCO
AFD group financing authorizations
in foreign countries and overseas
in € millions
Financing authorizations in foreign countries and in Overseas territories in 2022 amounted to €12 billion, an equivalent result to 2021.
Payments from AFD Group
in foreign countries and overseas
in € millions
The Group's payments amounted to €9.2 billion in 2022, higher than in 2021 (€8.7 billion).
Expertise france, FAST RISING ACTIVITY
Revenue
in € millions
In 2022, Expertise France's activity grew by 5% to reach a revenue of €341 million.
Africa, the region where AFD Group is most active
AFD Group financial authorizations
Distribution by geographical zone
in € millions
In 2022, AFD Group's financing authorizations in Africa (Sub-Saharan and North Africa) amounted to €5 billion, which makes it the Group's biggest region of intervention.
Breakdown of AFD Group financing authorizations
By country income level
in € millions
Activity in less-developed countries amounted to nearly €2.9 billion, i.e. 26% of the Group's total activity in foreign countries.
State financial effort implemented by AFD
in € millions
The State's financial effort implemented by AFD Group amounted to €2.25 billion in 2022, a slight increase on 2021.
