Strengthening AIT-AFD Relations
By Office of International and Public Affairs
18 February 2025 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed a senior delegation from France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on 18 February 2025 to explore potential collaboration in key development areas, including biodiversity, sustainable energy, climate change, water management, and environmental sustainability. The meeting was part of AIT’s continuous efforts to foster partnerships with international organizations that align with its mission of promoting sustainable development in Asia and beyond.
The AFD delegation was led by Mr. Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Regional Director for Southeast Asia, accompanied by Ms. Huihui Zhou, ESG Specialist; Mr. Oskar Lecuyer, Environmental Economist; and Ms. Romane Delcourt, Regional Projects and Partnership Officer. They were welcomed by AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, alongside the deans of AIT’s three schools—Prof. Sangam Shrestha of the School of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Abdul Salam of the School of Environment, Resources and Development, and Prof. Yousre Badir of the School of Management —as well as faculty members engaged in sustainable development research, along with senior officials.
The meeting began with welcome remarks from AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li and an introduction to AIT by Mr. Shawn Kelly, Executive Director of the Office of International and Public Affairs (OIPA), who emphasized AIT’s strong historical ties with France and its ongoing collaborations with international development agencies. A short video presentation further highlighted AIT’s ongoing collaborations with French organizations, reinforcing its role in promoting research, academic exchanges, and policy development for sustainable solutions in the region.
Mr. Marcelli reaffirmed AFD’s commitment to supporting global transitions toward sustainability, aligning its work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. As a key player in France’s international development agenda, AFD is currently active in more than 160 countries, financing projects in areas such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, education, and urban development.
AIT faculty members Prof. Mukand Babel and Dr. Guillaume Lacombe, a researcher in hydrology and water management seconded from CIRAD (Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) to AIT’s Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program, presented an overview of existing collaborations between AIT and French institutions.
The pair highlighted three current projects demonstrating the impact of AIT’s partnership with French and international development agencies, notably – “Drought Impact to Water Adaptation in the Mun River Basin, Northeast Thailand (DIWAM)”, funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, “Sustainable Micro-Watershed Management in Northern Laos (SWAN)”, supported by AFD and “Climate Adaptive Strengthening of Lower Eastern Chao Phraya River Water System Investment Program”, funded by the Asian Development Bank.
The meeting was organized by International Affairs of the Office of International and Public Affairs and included the participation of Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director, and Sirima Sirimattayanan. Senior Program Officer. Delegates presented ideas for joint regional research projects, capacity-building programs and technical support and funding initiatives. Both AIT and AFD expressed a desire to explore impactful work that addresses pressing challenges in Southeast Asia.
