Who are we?

Since 1973, the French NGO Acting for Life works for the territorial economic and social development of vulnerable populations. For nearly 50 years, we have been committed to the same objective: to combat poverty by encouraging the emergence of local organisations that are capable of overcoming the challenges posed by exclusion and economic vulnerability in Africa and Latin America.

Acting for Life (AFL) has been build a strong network of partnerships with civil-society organisations (CSO) that are deeply rooted in their respective localities in the Global South. AFL works closely with over 50 NGOs and professional organisations, as well as territorial and local authorities to enable more than a million people each year to make a decent living from their work on their land.  Discover the latest Annual report of the association.

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Intervention domains

Image Agropastoralism
Icone Agropastoralism

Agropastoralism

Acting for Life contributes to securing herd mobility and facilitating access to pastoral and market infrastructure by ensuring strong collaboration between civil society organizations and local communities. This strategy enables agropastoralism to become a sustainable part of the socio-economic landscape of territories and to increase the resilience of populations.
Image Food systems and ecosystems
Icone Food systems and ecosystems

Food systems and ecosystems

Acting for Life supports rural populations and their organizations in West Africa and Latin America, so that they can access and sustainably manage the natural, human, material and financial resources present on their territory, and promote inclusive economic development. AFL accompanies smallholder families and producers’ organizations to produce a diversified production adapted in quality and quantity to market standards, while supporting the transition towards agro-ecological and organic production. In a context of massive degradation of biodiversity exacerbated by global warming, the protection of ecosystems and natural spaces is an essential component of our projects.
Image Technical & vocational education & training
Icone Technical & vocational education & training

Technical & vocational education & training

Acting for Life is committed to helping young people overcome the challenges they face when it comes to finding employment. We carry out large-scale initiatives to improve access to decent jobs, expand professional opportunities and boost income. Our work aims to strengthen training systems (degree and certification programmes) in promising sectors such as the energy transition, sustainable construction and solar power.

  • 8.7M€
    de budget annuel
  • 27
    salariés
  • 22
    administrateurs

50 years of history

  • Funded in 1973

    GARD (now Acting for Life) is a French non-partisan, non-religious NGO that
    promotes international solidarity. It focuses primarily on promoting economic development in vulnerable communities.

  • 1979

    GARD (Groupement d’Aide aux Réfugiés et Déplacés) is founded in France. In 1992, GARD becomes Groupe Développement, and ultimately Acting for Life.

  • 11 march 2002

    Acting for Life is officially recognised in France as an organisation serving the public interest.

  • Since 2015

    Acting for Life takes action to address four of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): end poverty; end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; establish sustainable consumption and production; combat climate change.

  • In 2023

    50 years after its founding, Acting for Life continues to work with civil-society organisations (SCO) in the Global South to reduce poverty by promoting local economic and social development in West Africa and Latin America.

Governance

Jean-Cyril SPINETTA

President

Honorary president of Air France and Air France-KLM

Philippe CALAVIA

Treasurer

Coordinator of international partnerships and alliances Secretary general of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) Luxembourg Co-founder of the European branch of Opportunity International and Acord

Xavier BOUTIN

Honorary CFO of Air France-KLM

Guy DELBREL

Africa expert

Founder of IECD President of IMRA Honorary treasurer of Coordination Sud and chair of Coordination Humanitaire et Développement

Director of external relations - Africa Air France-KLM Honorary deputy secretary-general of CCFD-Terre Solidaire

Emile BOURDIN

President and founder of a development NGO Honorary president of the Catholic University in Angers

Xavier BOUTIN

Director and founder of the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) President of the Malagasy Applied Research Institute (IMRA)

Nicolas BUTTET

Former lawyer and member of the Swiss parliament Founder of the Philanthropos Institute and the Ecophilos Foundation in Fribourg, and the Eucharistein Brotherhood

Henri-Michel COMET

Deputy general manager of Groupe ADP

Guy DELBREL

Director of external relations - Africa at Air France-KLM

Jean-François DEWITTE

Agroeconomist Member of the ImpactHope Foundation

Director of marketing, innovation and development of new markets

Michel ENNESSER

Honorary CEO of Servair

Yves EZANNO

Secretary general of the Board of Airlines Representatives, representing all foreign airlines operating in France

Bernard-Marie GEFFROY

Director of Aux Captifs, La Libération Curate of the Saint Leu-Saint Gilles parish

Lorraine KIHL

Director of Vosj’Innove Honorary executive director of Acting for Life

Haïm KORSIA

Chief Rabbi of France

Philippe LE GOFF

Human resources director of La Chaîne de l’Éspoir

Bernard LEMETTRE

Honorary president of the “Nest Movement” Deacon in Wattrelos

Olivier MONDOT

Certified accountant and honorary CFO of Darty Kingfisher

Patrick RENAUD

President of the Roissy Pays de France agglomeration community

Jean-Pierre SAUVAGE

President of the Board of Airlines Representatives, representing all foreign airlines operating in France

Nicole TANGHE

Lawyer specialised in human rights and family law in Brussels

François VELLAS

Professor of international economics at Toulouse Capitole University Director of the master’s programme in tourism

Pascal DOLL

President of the Roissy Pays de France agglomeration community

Pascal ZADIKIAN

Head of Purchasing & Logistics for Servair‘s Africa network

Komi ABITOR

Managing director of Entreprises Territoires et Développement (ETD)

Photo Salariés

Operative team

26
Employees

Acting for Life is a team of dedicated individuals with a wide range of complementary skills. We have extensive local knowledge in the communities where we carry out our projects, vast experience in our areas of expertise and a sound grasp of regional development models allowing us to offer efficient solutions. We are constantly in contact with our local partner organisations, many of whom are in isolated areas and lack access to training and information. We work with them in the field on a regular basis to monitor our jointly led projects and perform rigorous checks regarding management.

Thanks to the support of Groupe ADP, our organisation’s head office is located at the Le Bourget airport. We made the choice not to open any offices abroad, which sets us apart from other international-solidarity organisations. We did so in order to give our partner organisations as much autonomy as possible and the greatest chance of success.

  • Board

    • Office

      • Director

        Matthieu de BÉNAZÉ

        • Programs

          • Africa Program Manager

            Cédric TOUQUET

          • Latin America Program Manager

            Sara TEILLARD

          • Head of Training and Professional Integration Programs

            Clélia ROUCOUX

          • Program Officer

            Zana COULIBALY - Agropastoralism
            Angelo CONSOLI - Latin America and Climate Referent
            Estelle DANDOY - Food Systems and Ecosystems Emmanuelle DIÉ - Agropastoralism
            Soumaila FOMBA - Agropastoralism
            Robin HUMEAU - Professional Training and Integration
            Léa POTTIER - Training and Professional Integration
            Stéphane PIL - Agropastoralism
            Annabelle POWELL - Agropastoralism

        • Administrative and financial

          • Administrative and financial manager

            • Administrative and financial manager for Africa

              Sabrina HEUZEY

            • Financial support officers

              Marie AARNINK
              Julia BAÜMULLER
              Vincent JAVARY
              Maciré KEITA
              Milan MARTINOT
              Samantha PIFFER
              Shani ROBERT
              Gilles PETNKEU - ECPAT France

            • Accountant

              Fy RATSIHOARANA

              • Accounting Assistant

                Harilalaina RASAMINAIVO

        • Sponsorship and Communication

          • Head of Patronage, Philanthropy and Communication

            Valérie CHAUVEAU

            • Communication Officer

              Inès BENCHAOUI

        • Secretariat

          Aude CARRÉ