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Three Oceans
To increase regional integration in France’s overseas territories and offer a global solution to cross-border issues, AFD adopted the Three Oceans strategy in 2019. This approach groups together overseas territories and neighboring foreign states in three geographical basins: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. The strategy aims to more effectively address the common challenges in these areas.
Context
Located in three oceans and on four continents, France’s overseas territories give it a reach that extends far beyond its mainland borders and a unique global presence. Alongside their neighbors, these territories are suffering from the effects of climate change and the unique challenges of small, isolated island economies.
In 2019, to effectively meet the specific needs of these territories and help them integrate into their regional basin, AFD adopted the Three Oceans strategy, in which the overseas territories form a bridge between France and their neighbors. With its unique, longstanding presence in these territories, AFD Group has the ambition of supporting their plans for sustainable development and helping strengthen their ties with their neighbors.
To develop concerted regional approaches in each of the oceanic basins where the overseas territories are located, the AFD Group network is organized into three regional divisions: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Each covers the overseas territories and countries within its regional basin. With this approach, AFD enhances the convergence of its overseas and international initiatives. It focuses its efforts on economic and social development and addressing common challenges (fighting climate change and inequalities).
In 2023, AFD Group committed € 1.3 billion to the Three Oceans.
Our approach
AFD and the Three Oceans: guiding the French Overseas Territories toward a regional, ocean-centered future
The Atlantic Ocean Regional Office covers sixteen Caribbean territories, including four overseas territories and three foreign countries, each with an agency or representative office: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Suriname. These territories facing major development challenges. The region is endowed with remarkable biodiversity, but is on the front line of the effects of climate change and is characterized by strong economic, political and cultural disparities. AFD Group aims to promote regional development to bring territories together and help improve living conditions for populations.
Taking joint action to develop solutions for the benefit of everyone is a challenge shared by the territories of the Indian Ocean (Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands). These territories recognize that they form a community with interconnected economic, cultural, and societal futures. To support regional cooperation dynamics in the Indian Ocean, AFD Group has strengthened its capacity for support and is closely involved in local and regional partnerships.
At the crossroads of the Philippines and Indonesia, stretching from Palau and Timor Leste to the easternmost archipelagos of French Polynesia and bordered to the north by the Marshall Islands and to the south by New Zealand, AFD Group activity in the Pacific islands region covers eighteen states and territories. These include fifteen independent island states and three French territories, namely New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia.
The region, which represents nearly one third of the surface area of the globe, is highly exposed to the effects of climate change and natural disasters. Through its one hundred percent Paris Agreement commitment, AFD Group grounds its work in a partnership based approach that supports the populations of the Pacific islands.
In the field
Projects
News & Press Releases
AFD and 2050 Pathways bring together ministries of finance to strengthen climate action ahead of COP30
Published on September 4 2025
Publications & Media
Key figures
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39 territories covered, including 12 French overseas departments and territories
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€8.5 BN in 2023 Total amount for ongoing projects
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58 regional projects since 2018, with 48 involving French Overseas Territories