On 11 February, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the World Bank met in Morocco to highlight “The Power of Co-financing,” a model designed to expand as international aid shrinks while development needs grow. With resources under pressure and partner countries requiring investments in sectors such as transport, energy, and climate action, the two institutions have chosen to pool their resources rather than work separately. In Morocco, this approach has been applied for nearly a decade, supporting large-scale projects in energy, urban mobility, and urban development, including the globally renowned Noor solar complex.
Co-financing addresses not only funding gaps but also the challenge of fragmented aid, which often delays projects due to differing donor rules, timelines, and procedures. By aligning efforts, sharing risks, and moving forward jointly, AFD and the World Bank simplify project implementation and support more ambitious and transformative initiatives. The February forum brought together AFD, the World Bank, and Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance to discuss scaling up co-financing, including attracting private investment.
Beyond Morocco, co-financing is becoming essential in a world facing multiple crises and tightening budgets. By promoting collaboration over isolation, this approach is set to play an increasingly central role in financing sustainable development effectively in the years ahead.
