AFD marks 20 years of lasting partnership with Sri Lanka

Economic empowerment of women

Images courtesy of AFD

France and Sri Lanka have been working together for more than 75 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. In 2005, following the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, France, through the Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency or AFD) - the public development bank of the French government, came to lend a helping hand to Sri Lanka and other countries that suffered.

 Since then, AFD has maintained a lasting partnership with the country, standing alongside Sri Lanka in times of crisis while supporting the long term transition towards resilient and sustainable development. 

“Over the past 20 years, we have developed a strong and trusted relationship with the Government of Sri Lanka, public institutions, local authorities and many development partners,” AFD Country Director and Regional Director for South Asia Yazid Bensaïd told the Daily Mirror. He said that since the beginning of their engagement, AFD has financed more than a dozen projects representing over EUR 700 million in commitments. 

Yazid Bensaid

“Our work has focused on areas that are essential for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development, including water and sanitation, renewable energy, urban development, climate resilience and environmental protection. We support Sri Lankan projects that improve people’s daily lives,  while also helping the country prepare for future challenges. What is important for us is not only financing projects, but also building lasting partnerships based on dialogue, technical cooperation and shared objectives,” he said. 

AFD is a group of three entities: Proparco, which finances the private sector and Expertise France, which implements technical cooperation, operating in complementarity with the AFD’s activities. 

According to Bensaïd, Sri Lanka is not only the first country in the South Asian region (which for AFD includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) where all three branches of the AFD Group operate;  since 2023, with Expertise France starting its activities in Sri Lanka, Colombo is also home to the AFD South Asia Regional Office, where he serves as  Regional Director.

Over the years, AFD has supported Sri Lanka in terms of building resilient communities, supporting climate resilient territories and promoting equal societies. Through the provision of technologies to monitor air quality, AFD has  been committed to ensure that Sri Lanka makes informed decisions with reliable data. 

Bensaïd noted that Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to climate-related impacts such as floods, coastal erosion and extreme weather events. “In that context, tools such as environmental monitoring systems, climate data collection and early warning mechanisms become extremely important,” he added. 

AFD believes that climate resilience must be integrated into development planning. “This is why our projects increasingly combine infrastructure investment with environmental sustainability. For example, in the water and energy sectors, we have supported solutions that reduced energy consumption, improved resource management and lowered environmental impacts,” he said.

Bensaïd observes that apart from technology and monitoring systems, continued institutional support, capacity building and public awareness are equally important. “Climate adaptation is a long-term effort, and maintaining and effectively using these resources will be essential for Sri Lanka’s resilience in the coming decades,” he added. 

Over 20 years of experience

AFD has worked with different administrations and institutions over the past 20 years. “Overall, we have always found commitment among our Sri Lankan counterparts. Every country goes through political and institutional transitions, and development projects often require long-term continuity beyond the political cycle. What has been encouraging in Sri Lanka is that there has consistently been recognition of the importance of sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience and public service delivery,” he observed. 

Bensaïd appreciated the expertise and dedication of many Sri Lankan officials and public agencies with whom they collaborate closely. He said that like any development cooperation, there could sometimes be administrative or implementation challenges, especially during periods of economic difficulty. But AFD has always maintained constructive dialogue with the authorities and worked together to find practical solutions.

“The strength of our partnership is precisely that it has continued through different periods and different governments, which reflects a shared commitment to Sri Lanka’s long-term development. In this context, we are looking forward to formalise our Host Country Agreement with the government of Sri Lanka to secure and support our engagement in the years ahead,” he told the Daily Mirror. 

Sri Lanka is becoming vulnerable to adverse climate change impacts. In this backdrop, AFD is committed to support Sri Lanka in strengthening resilience while pursuing sustainable development. 

“We have already supported projects in water and sanitation, urban development, and renewable energy. These projects helped improve environmental protection while also strengthening public health and the welfare of the population. We also support policies related to climate adaptation. Going forward, climate resilience will remain a central priority in our cooperation with Sri Lanka as per government priorities,” Bensaïd noted.

On the occasion of marking 20 years in Sri Lanka, AFD reaffirms its long-term commitment to the country and its people. Despite recent economic challenges, AFD remains confident in the country’s capacity to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

In his concluding remarks, he said that their objective is to carry on supporting Sri Lanka through partnerships that combine development impact, resilience of populations and territories, and reduction of inequalities. “We believe that long-term cooperation and international solidarity are more important than ever in addressing global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development,” he underscored.