Marie-Hélène Loison is Deputy CEO at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a position she has held since July 2021. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in guiding France’s international development policy and operations. Previously, she was Deputy Director of Operations at AFD from 2018 to 2021, and before that led the Mediterranean and Middle East Department, managing regional projects and initiatives amid challenging contexts.

With a career rooted in international development finance, Marie‑Hélène began at Société Générale’s export finance division in 1996 before joining Proparco - AFD’s arm for private sector financing—where she rose to Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer. She holds a political science degree from Sciences Po Paris and a master’s in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Frequently invited to global forums, she is respected for her leadership in sustainable development, resilient infrastructure, and evolving financing models.