Quality of Life Assessment in Urban Development and Transport Policymaking
Quality of life evaluation of transport infrastructure measures the performance of infrastructure projects relative to their impact on individual happiness and social burden.
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France’s policy for development and international solidarity is implemented by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group. This group is composed of the AFD, the primary agency responsible for France’s official development aid; Proparco, which focuses on private sector financing; and Expertise France, the technical cooperation agency.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development, chaired by the Prime Minister, defines the guidelines for France’s development cooperation policy. Three ministries steer and implement the cooperation policy: the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; the Ministry of the Economy and Finance; and the Ministry of the Interior, Overseas France, Local Authorities and Immigration.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) published the Southeast Asia and South Asia Regional Strategy Papers 2020–2024, which outline France’s development assistance priorities. These priorities address climate, environmental, and social challenges in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. In Southeast Asia, the AFD emphasizes low-carbon development, social cohesion, and reducing inequalities. The strategy promotes sustainable management of natural resources and supports transitions toward resilient, low-carbon territories. In South Asia, AFD’s priorities include climate change mitigation, sustainable territorial management, and inclusive economic growth. Both regional strategies are consistent with France’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
In June 2024, the AFD and ADB signed an agreement for AFD’s $1.1 million grant contribution to support the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific, managed by ADB. This initiative specifically aims to catalyze financing for nature-based solutions to support climate actions and biodiversity conservation across Asia and the Pacific.
Since becoming a member in 1970, France has committed $1.5 billion to special funds, mostly for the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s low-income, developing member countries to help reduce poverty and improve quality of life.
Priorities
- Climate change adaptation
- Inclusive economic growth
- Sustainable management of territories
- Reducing inequalities
Sources:
News
ADB to Improve Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihoods in Timor-Leste
13 December 2024
ADB has approved a $6 million grant, as part of a total project cost of $16.6 million, to help improve climate resilience, water and food security, and livelihood opportunities for rural communities in Timor-Leste.
ADB Expands Support for Philippines’ Climate Action with $500 Million Loan
26 November 2024
ADB has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to further help strengthen the Philippines’ efforts to tackle climate change.
$100 Million ADB Loan to Strengthen Armenia’s Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Markets Development
5 November 2024
ADB has approved an €89.47 million ($100 million equivalent) policy-based loan as Subprogram 2 of Armenia’s Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Markets Development Program.
New Publications by GEMs Consortium Offer Further Insights into Emerging Market Credit Risk
15 October 2024
Two new publications released today by the GEMs Consortium—a group of 26 multilateral development banks and development finance institutions—provide further insights on the level of credit risk in emerging markets and developing economies according to the investment experience of consortium members.
ADB Approves Policy Loan to Support Indonesia’s Energy Transition
24 May 2024
ADB has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to help Indonesia accelerate its energy transition. The Affordable and Sustainable Energy Transition Program will support various policy measures for the country to achieve its enhanced nationally determined contribution and net-zero power emission targets by 2050, of which this is the first of two subprograms.
ADB Approves Programs to Support Reforms in Uzbekistan’s Energy, Financial Markets
31 July 2024
ADB has approved two policy-based loans totaling $400 million that support the Government of Uzbekistan’s initiatives to enhance the country’s financial markets and develop a sustainable, market-led power sector.
AFD, ADB Signed Grant Cofinancing for Nature Solutions Finance Hub
25 June 2024
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and ADB signed an agreement on AFD’s €1 million grant contribution to support the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific, managed by ADB, to support the development of project pipelines, capacity building, and financial instruments for Nature-Based Solutions across Asia and the Pacific.
ADB Strengthens Plastic Marine Debris Reduction Program in Indonesia with $500 Million Loan
24 May 2024
ADB has approved a $500 million loan to strengthen Indonesia’s program to reduce plastic marine debris.
Stories
Southeast Asia
Video: The ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility: Accelerating Green Infrastructure in Southeast Asia
This video introduces the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility and features testimonies from key leaders in finance, climate mitigation, and sustainable development, including representatives from the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, Green Climate Fund, and ADB.
Philippines
Policy Reforms Spur Climate Action
ADB and Agence Française de Développement are helping the Philippines transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy through policy reforms that drive climate actions in the key sectors of agriculture, natural resources, environment, energy, and transport.
Georgia
Gender-Responsive Water Utility Reforms
Georgia’s water utility is getting a makeover and fostering a more gender-responsive work environment. ADB, France, and Japan are supporting water supply and sanitation sector reforms and promoting women’s participation and leadership in the sector.
People's Republic of China
ADB, GCF, and Partners Pioneer Climate Fund in Shandong, People's Republic of China
The highly innovative Shandong Green Development Fund Project, cofinanced by ADB, KfW, Agence Française de Développement, and Green Climate Fund, aims to leverage significant funding from institutional, commercial, and other sources from about $400 million in seed funding from development partners.
Bangladesh
Securing a Sustainable Water Resource for Dhaka
The poor quality of drinking water in Bangladesh significantly impacts public health, fisheries, and agriculture. To address this problem, ADB, Agence Française de Développement, the European Investment Bank, and Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific are helping the country expand the coverage and quality of water supply in Dhaka by developing a new raw water intake at the Meghna River.
Bangladesh
Clean and Stable Water for Dhaka
ADB and partners, Agence Française de Développement and the European Investment Bank, are funding the development of a new surface water supply scheme, which includes more efficient and sustainable systems for water intake, treatment, transmission, and distribution.
Pakistan
Video: Zu Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit System Transforming Lives
In Peshawar, Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the newly inaugurated Zu Peshawar (meaning “Let’s Go Peshawar” in the local language Pashto) is transforming lives of citizens in the city.
Cambodia
Improving Value Chains to Boost Agriculture
Cambodia’s agriculture sector, which supports its large rural and farming population, is getting support from ADB and its financing partners in strengthening its agriculture value chains. Starting with agricultural commodities with a high potential for enhancing competitiveness in select provinces, the project envisions stronger agricultural postharvest services for its piloted tens of thousands of farming households and agribusinesses.
Cambodia
How to Build a Globally Competitive Workforce
After years of education reforms, Cambodia focuses on preparing workers for higher-level technical roles in a bid to become more globally competitive.
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Women as River Basin Planners and Managers
In the Nam Ngum River Basin, women from ethnic households have begun to play major roles in managing water resources, in the process gaining access to finance, jobs, livelihood opportunities, and land ownership.
Sri Lanka
Rebuilding and Recovery After the Asian Tsunami
Communities and infrastructure in Sri Lanka destroyed by the 2004 Asian Tsunami have been rebuilt. Sturdier national roads, coastal highways, and access roads are in place to help hasten recovery from the disaster, together with basic public services.
People’s Republic of China
Connecting Remote Ancient Cultures by Train
Built through strong partnerships, a railway links two ancient Chinese cities, boosts tourism and jobs, and opens a remote province to a wider market.
Knowledge
ADB and France collaborated on several knowledge products and events including the following:
Active Trust Funds
Active trust funds are those a) with ongoing projects; or b) with no active projects but have remaining funds.
Financing Commitments
France contributes to ADB’s development initiatives through two key avenues: Cofinancing and Special Funds.
Cofinancing
2024
- Project-Specific Cofinancing $1 billion
5-YEARS
- Project-Specific Cofinancing $2.3 billion
- Trust Funds Contribution $4.8 million
Special Funds
- Asian Development Fund $1.5 billion
- Technical Assistance Special Fund $66.7 million
Partnership framework agreement
ADB and the Agence Française de Développement signed the first partnership framework agreement (PFA) covering 2010–2013 and was followed by a framework cofinancing agreement for 2013–2016. The PFA 2016–2022 had a cofinancing target of $1.5 billion for each partner for the first 3 years (2016–2019), then amended in 2019 to adopt higher cofinancing targets of $2.5 billion for each partner for the next 3 years (2019–2022). In 2022, the PFA was renewed for 2022–2028 with a combined cofinancing target of $3 billion for the first 3 years.
2024 cofinancing highlights
Sovereign Cofinancing. In 2024, the Agence Française de Développement committed $1 billion in loan cofinancing and technical assistance. Of this amount, $278.3 million was committed to supporting the Philippines in tackling climate change by accelerating reforms in key sectors such as agriculture, natural resources and the environment, energy, and transport aiming for climate-resilient and low-carbon pathways; $380 million to Indonesia, of which $216.8 million is for strengthening Indonesia’s program to reduce plastic marine debris, targeting a 70% reduction in plastic waste flow into the oceans by 2025 and $163.2 million for accelerating Indonesia’s energy transition, focusing on establishing a robust policy and regulatory framework for clean energy, strengthening sector governance and financial sustainability, and ensuring a just and inclusive transition. In addition, $108.7 million was provided to help Bangladesh implement its climate priorities, another $108 million to strengthen Uzbekistan’s legal and regulatory framework and restructure its power sector.
Nonsovereign Cofinancing. The Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) supported over 370 transactions valued at $2.1 billion with banks domiciled in France from 2009 to 2024. During the same period, the TSCFP supported over 320 French exports and/or imports valued at $264.5 million. In 2024 alone, the TSCFP supported 4 transactions valued at $1.3 million with banks domiciled in France and supported 57 French exports and/or imports valued at $37.7 million. Exports and/or imports were mainly to/from Viet Nam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Underlying goods involved mostly food and agriculture-related goods, industrial machinery and capital goods, as well as raw and non-energy commodities.
Projects
