Agence intergouvernementale de La Francophonie

Intergovernmental Agency for the French-Speaking Community

Founded

1970-03-20 Niamey Niger

History

20 Mar 1970, Niamey (Niger), as Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT), also referred to under the acronym AGECOP. Convention entered into force 31 Aug 1970. The third Francophone Summit, Dakar (Senegal), 1989, conferred on the Agency the role of principal operator of cultural and technical cooperation in the francophone area. The existence of La Francophonie was formalized following the intention formulated at the Summit of 1986, Paris (France), and put into effect, 14-16 Nov 1997, Hanoi (Vietnam), at 7th Summit. Boutros Boutros-Ghali was elected as first Secretary General of E-XE3879 - Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), to act as political spokesman and official representative of the French-speaking Community. Changed to: Agence de la Francophonie in 1997. Current name adopted 1999. Unofficial acronym: AIF. Merged with OIF, 23 Nov 2005, Antananarivo (Madagascar).

Aims

Bring together countries linked by their common usage of the French language; promote and develop multilateral cooperation among members in the fields of education and training, culture and multimedia, new technologies in information and communication, legal cooperation, human rights and democracy, economic development and solidarity, energy and environment, thus contributing to rapprochement between peoples.

Events

Activities

Structure

The Agency is the 'principal operator' of OIF:

I. General Conference:

- F-XF5124 - Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie (CMF), set up 21 Nov 1991, comprises representatives at ministerial level. It meets every 2 years and ensures continuity of policy between summits.

II. Administrative Council:

- E-XE3041 - Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF), set up 21 Nov 1991, meets at least 4 times a year and acts as the permanent policy organ for French-speaking institutions. It comprises technically qualified personal representatives of 18 Heads of State or Government, chosen at each Summit. Programme Committees within CPF provide advice, proposals and evaluation for all major Summit programmes.

III. External Programme Directorates (Statutory Subsidiary Bodies):

• H-XE0214 - Institut de la Francophonie numérique (IFN);
• E-XE1235 - Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IFDD).

IV. Internal Programme Directorates:

• Human Rights and Democracy;
• Education and Technical and Professional Training;
• Economic Cooperation;
• Development and Solidarity;
• Languages and Writing;
• Culture and Inheritance;
• Cinema and Media;
• Juridical Cooperation.

V. Assistance Directorates:

• Programmation and Planning;
• Budget and Accountancy;
• Human Resources.

VI. Communication Service for the Francophone Community.

VII. Regional Offices (3).

VIII. Consultative Assembly for the Francophone Community:

• C-XC4331 - Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF).

IX. Permanent Ministerial Conferences of the Francophonie:

• F-XF3673 - Conférence des ministres de l'éducation des Etats et gouvernements de la Francophonie (CONFEMEN);
• F-XF3299 - Conférence des ministres de la jeunesse et des sports de la Francophonie (CONFEJES).

Other institutions:

• E-XE2476 - Comité international des Jeux de La Francophonie (CIJF);
• C-XC7500 - Conseil international des radios-télévisions d'expression française (CIRTEF);
• F-XF3258 - Forum francophone des affaires (FFA);
• F-XF1536 - Conférence au sommet des chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement des pays ayant le français en partage (Sommet de la Francophonie) treats major political, economic, technical and cultural questions and adopts cooperative programmes;
• U-XF3809 - Conférence des ministres chargés de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche scientifique des Etats et gouvernements des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFEMER), a sectorial ministerial conference, meets every 2 years;
• Consultative Council (meeting once a year), consists of international intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and experts qualified in the Agency's areas of activity. Expert Groups comprise a total over 100 experts from virtually all member countries.

Presidency of each francophone institution rests with the relevant representative of the country hosting the last Summit, while the Agency acts as secretariat for all francophone institutions. In virtue of Agency's mandate, its Secretary-General comes under the direct authority of the Summit, CMF and CPF. He participates fully in CPF meetings and in the cooperation section of preparatory ministerial conferences. He acts as consultant in the work of CMF and CPF and directs the General Secretariat, which includes 6 General Directorates: Policies and Planning (DGPP); Administration and Finance (DGAF); Education and Training (DGEF-EIB); Culture and Communications (DGCC); Technical Cooperation and Economic Development (DGCTDE); Special Development Programme (DGPSD).

As well as the Agency, the following bodies (direct operators of OIF) implement Summit decisions:

• C-XF3420 - Agence universitaire de La Francophonie (AUF);
• C-XC7332 - Association Internationale des Maires et responsables des capitales et métropoles partiellement ou entièrement Francophones (AIMF);
• F-XF0037 - TV5Monde (TV5);
• F-XF2205 - Université internationale de langue française au service du développement africain (Université Senghor).

Languages

Staff

Finance

Relations with Inter-Governmental Organizations

Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations

Publications

Members

Type I Classification

Type II Classification

Subjects ^*

UN Sustainable Development Goals ^**

UIA Org ID

XC3983