Haitian-French Cooperation: AFD's Actions Highlighted in Paris at the 8th Edition of the Thursdays of Friendship

PARIS, France.— The Embassy of Haiti in France this week hosted the 8th edition of the Franco-Haitian Thursdays of Friendship, dedicated to the commitment of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Haiti. This meeting brought together diplomats, experts, and institutional partners for a strategic dialogue on cooperation prospects between the two countries.

Guest of honor for this edition, Mr. Matthieu Discour, Director of the Three Oceans department at AFD, presented the main orientations of the group's actions in Haiti, where it has been active for over fifty years. Priority sectors mentioned include governance, education, health, agriculture, as well as risk and disaster management.

The discussions allowed for a review of AFD's major intervention areas: strengthening the resilience of populations and territories, maintaining institutional capacities essential for the rule of law and access to basic services, and adapting action modalities to the specific realities of the Haitian ground.

Alongside Mr. Discour, Ms. Lorraine Lengrand, Haiti Country Manager at AFD, Mr. Tyler Williamson from Expertise France, and Mr. Antoine Morisse, Project Manager for fragilities, crises, and conflicts, detailed the functioning and complementarity of the AFD group's entities. Proparco, dedicated to private sector financing, Expertise France, specialized in technical cooperation for public policies, and Campus Groupe AFD, which offers degree-granting training, collectively contribute to an integrated development approach.

In his address, the Ambassador of Haiti in France, Mr. Volcy, emphasized the need for a strategic evolution of cooperation. He advocated for a shift from an assistance logic to a dynamic of sustainable investment. «The aid we need is an investment that helps us do without aid,» he declared. He notably cited AFD's support for the construction of the road connecting Hinche to Saint-Raphaël as an example of infrastructure with long-term impact.

Discussions also covered partnership mechanisms, project submission and review procedures, the role of local AFD agencies, and coordination between the Embassy, French institutions, and Haitian partners. Several emblematic projects, implemented with the support of Expertise France, were mentioned to concretely illustrate the impact of Franco-Haitian cooperation.

Through the Franco-Haitian Thursdays of Friendship, the Embassy of Haiti in France aims to consolidate a space for strategic dialogue on common issues, while strengthening historical ties based on solidarity, partnership, and a shared vision of sustainable development serving Haiti.

Jean Mapou / Le Relief