The Institute of the Francophonie for Sustainable Development (Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable – IFDD) is a subsidiary body of the International Organization of La Francophonie (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, OIF), based in Quebec City for nearly 35 years. The Institute works to advance Francophone cooperation in support of the ecological transition and the implementation of sustainable development across the 93 member states and governments of the OIF.
The IFDD plays a major role in supporting the participation and capacity-building of Francophone countries within major multilateral international negotiations on environment and sustainable development, notably those related to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. For several decades, the Institute has supported states, local authorities, organisations and communities in planning, implementing and monitoring transformative actions for the benefit of the planet and humanity.
The IFDD is part of an evolving institutional trajectory. The Network for Energy in French-Speaking Countries was established in 1986 during the First Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Francophonie (Versailles). In 1987, the General Conference of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) endorsed the creation of the Energy Institute, a subsidiary body of the Agency, based in Quebec City, with a mandate to promote concrete cooperation actions in the field of energy.
In 1998, the Institute became the Institute of Energy and Environment of the Francophonie (IEPF). Its statutes were revised in 2010, notably to reflect the adoption of the Charter of the Francophonie. Following commitments made at successive Francophonie Summits – particularly those held in Ouagadougou (2004), Quebec City (2008) and Kinshasa (2012) – the Institute adopted its current name in 2013: Institute of the Francophonie for Sustainable Development (IFDD).
ENERGIES 2050 and the IFDD
ENERGIES 2050 has maintained a strong and long-standing cooperation with the Institute since the creation of ENERGIES 2050, initially with the IEPF and subsequently with the IFDD. This cooperation has resulted in numerous joint actions focused on knowledge production and dissemination, capacity-building and support to Francophone stakeholders.
Without being exhaustive, this cooperation notably includes, from COP20 in Lima to COP29 in Baku, the preparation by ENERGIES 2050 of the Guide to Climate Change Negotiations and its Summary for Decision-Makers, as well as training activities for Francophone negotiators. Collaborations have also covered the creation of the Francophonie Initiative for Sustainable Cities (IFVD), training programmes for architects, urban planners and urban managers – particularly in partnership with EAMAU (African School of Architecture and Urban Planning) – as well as joint projects, publications, webinars and contributions to the Institute’s collections and journals, including Liaisons Énergies Francophones.
The cooperation further addresses key thematic areas such as access to energy, climate finance, and the agenda of major international environmental and climate conventions. Stéphane POUFFARY has also served as a member of the Scientific Committee of the IEPF.