By choosing Nairobi, France is signaling a move beyond its "pré carré" (traditional sphere of influence) into the dynamic markets of Anglophone East Africa.
Africa Forward: Africa-France partnership for growth and innovation
The landscape of international cooperation is changing and Nairobi has become the center of this transformation. On May 11 and 12 the capital of Kenya hosted the Africa Forward Summit, a landmark event that signals a definitive shift in how France engages with the African continent. For two days, government officials, private investors, and development agencies gathered to discuss a future built on green growth and energy transition. At least 35 national leaders from across the continent and around 7,000 representatives from civil society attended the summit in Nairobi.
This event was not just another diplomatic meeting. It represented the first time such a high-level French-led forum took place in an Anglophone country. The choice of Kenya is strategic: the nation is currently at the forefront of the global energy transition, proving that African leadership is essential for solving the climate crisis.
The Nairobi Declaration: a roadmap for clean energy
The Nairobi Declaration, delivered at the end of the summit, outlines a bold vision for the continent’s economic and environmental future. The Africa Forward Summit concluded with a strong commitment to accelerating the energy transition across Africa.
The declaration emphasizes that clean energy a necessity for sustainable industrialization. According to the document, the signatories commit to:
- Scaling up renewable energy infrastructure: focusing on solar, wind, and geothermal power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Green Industrialization: promoting local manufacturing of green technologies to ensure that Africa does not just consume clean energy but also produces it.
- Climate Resilience: investing in smart grids and storage solutions that can withstand the increasing volatility of the climate.
The goal is to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions. By prioritizing clean energy, the summit participants aim to provide electricity to millions while meeting global net-zero targets.
French investments: from public funds to private power
One of the most anticipated aspects of the Africa Forward Summit was the announcement of new financial commitments. France, through the AFD (Agence Française de Développement) Group and its private sector arm, Proparco, unveiled a significant investment package designed to catalyze the continent’s economic transformation.
During the summit, it was confirmed that the French government and its agencies will mobilize a total of €2.5 billion in new financing for the period 2026-2028. This sum is divided into two main streams:
- Public sector commitments: Approximately €1.5 billion will be directed toward public infrastructure projects, with a heavy emphasis on water management, urban planning, and large-scale renewable energy plants.
- Private sector mobilization: Proparco announced a target of €1 billion in private sector investments. These funds are destined for African SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and startups working in the digital economy, sustainable agriculture, and off-grid solar solutions.
These investments are designed as de-risking mechanisms to encourage further private capital to flow into African markets, ensuring that the transition to clean energy is financially viable in the long term.
A strategic pivot: from aid to partnership
To understand the significance of the Africa Forward Summit, we must look at the broader context of French diplomacy.
In recent years, the French government has implemented significant cuts to its Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget. The 2026 Finance Bill, for instance, saw a fifth consecutive cut in French development aid. This reduction is not just a budgetary coincidence; it reflects a strategic choice to move away from traditional subsidies and toward investment-based cooperation.
By hosting the summit in Kenya, a country with no colonial ties to France, Paris is signaling that it wants to engage with the whole of Africa based on economic merit and shared goals, rather than heavy historical baggage. The focus has shifted from “helping” Africa to “investing with” Africa.
Why Kenya? The Anglophone frontier
The choice of Nairobi as the host city is perhaps the strongest signal of France’s new direction. Historically, French influence was concentrated in West and Central Africa. By moving into the Anglophone sphere, France is acknowledging that the future of African growth, and the vanguard of the energy transition, is increasingly found in East Africa.
Kenya currently generates over 80% of its electricity from renewable sources. It is a global leader in geothermal energy and a hub for tech innovation (often called the “Silicon Savannah”). By bringing the Africa Forward Summit to Nairobi France is seeking to align itself with the most dynamic economies on the continent.
