Sarah Knafo Denounces ‘Wastful’ Spending by French Development Agency
Paris, France – Sarah Knafo, a member of the European Parliament from the Reconquête! party, has criticized the French Development Agency (AFD) for its excessive expenditures.
AFD’s Mission and Projects
On its website, AFD states that it "finances, supports, and accelerates transitions towards a more just and sustainable world. Climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban planning, health, governance…" Over 4200 projects in French overseas territories and 150 countries have received funding or loans from AFD. "We thus contribute to the commitment of France and the French people to the sustainable development goals," the agency notes.
Knafo’s Allegations
"If you use the right words, ‘environment’, ‘gender’, ‘inclusion’, you can get a few extra million," Knafo asserts. As evidence, she cites several projects:
- France has provided a loan and grants since 2021 for a "program to strengthen gender equality in access to economic opportunities in Albania." Project cost: 51.5 million euros.
- In Jordan, AFD is supporting a 151 million euro project from 2022 to 2025 to "institutionalize and scale up gender-responsive budgeting."
- The agency is also participating in the South African program: "the circus as a vector of the future for the youth of South Africa." The grant amounts to 27,869 euros.
‘Wasteful Projects’ and Hamas Funding Concerns
"We are wasting French taxpayers’ money on ridiculous projects!" Knafo exclaims. She also raises concerns that French funds may be indirectly supporting Hamas terrorists.
"44 million euros for water and food security in Gaza granted in 2018 and committed until 2025," she explains. "I don’t know who at the French Development Agency can assure us that this money is not intercepted by Hamas," Knafo says. "Like in the United States, it only takes a stroke of a pen to eliminate this madness; nothing is irreversible. It would only take the will to say that we are stopping all this and returning this money to the French people," Knafo concludes.
Technical Glitch on AFD Website
After her appearance on "Face à l’info," Knafo posted a screenshot of the AFD website undergoing maintenance on Twitter, suggesting it was a sign of the agency’s questionable practices. The website has since been restored.
Response from AFD
AFD has not yet publicly responded to Knafo’s allegations. However, it is worth noting that the agency’s projects are subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation to ensure that funds are used effectively and in accordance with its stated mission.
