Orange becomes the strategic partner of the French Development Agency (AFD) Group for digital technology

Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, Rémy Rioux, CEO of the AFD Group, and Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, have signed a groundbreaking partnership agreement to jointly accelerate digital inclusion and sustainable digital development. The three-year agreement establishes a framework for the exchange of expertise and the development of joint international projects. It covers 17 countries in the Africa-Middle East region where Orange operates, as well as Moldova and France's overseas departments. Priority areas include:

• Digital inclusion of populations through the deployment of strategic infrastructure (backbones, which are the nerve centers of a very high-speed network, and submarine cables)
• Financial and energy inclusion and access to e-services (agriculture, health, education), particularly in rural areas
• Reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology
• Training and professional integration through digital technology
• Support for innovation and entrepreneurship
• Forward-looking thinking on the ethical use and security of data, as well as artificial intelligence for development

As a multi-service operator and leading partner in the digital transformation of the Africa-Middle East region, Orange has already opened 16 Orange Digital Centers and 32 Orange Digital Centers Clubs in partnership with universities: these are free ecosystems accessible to all, promoting the digital inclusion of young people and the development of entrepreneurship.

The AFD Group supports public authorities, businesses, civil society, and innovative ecosystems in their journey towards a freer, more accessible, and more responsible digital world. Working alongside them, it deploys the full potential of digital solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Building on this expertise, the Orange and AFD groups have been collaborating for more than 20 years on several joint projects, such as supporting the deployment of fixed and mobile telecom networks for Orange subsidiaries in Jordan and Senegal, teaching young people about digital tools through the Orange Foundations in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, and Tunisia, and supporting coding training programs at Orange Digital Centers in Jordan.

This partnership will strengthen synergies and increase the dissemination of best practices and innovations in the digital sector. This is a renewed ambition: to work together for digital equality and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative solutions and collaborative initiatives.

At the signing of the agreement, Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, said: “This strategic partnership with the AFD Group marks an important step in our collaboration. I look forward to continuing this momentum of international cooperation for a more inclusive and sustainable digital world, which reinforces Orange's commitment to promoting digital access wherever we operate.”

Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of the AFD Group, said: "The AFD Group is convinced that digital technology is a lever for sustainable development and transformation in sectors as diverse as public services, education, health, and entrepreneurship. This first strategic partnership with Orange illustrates a shared ambition: to support digital sovereignty for the benefit of local populations by investing in innovative, inclusive, and responsible solutions."

Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, added, "Proparco, the AFD Group's subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, is fully committed to continuing to strengthen its partnership with Orange, both strategically and operationally. By combining our networks, expertise, and resources, we are taking decisive action to promote digital access for as many people as possible in France and in emerging and developing countries."

Media contacts :

• Flaminia le Maignan : flaminia.lemaignan@orange.com
• Service presse AFD :  _afdpresse@afd.fr