The collaboration now known as JEFIC began in 2016 with the Enhanced Partnership, representing a first step towards closer coordination among certain European bilateral development banks.
This process led, in 2021, to the signing of the Rome Joint Declaration, which marked the official establishment of the network, based on three core principles: a shared vision within the Team Europe approach; a commitment to transparency and to the visibility of European action; and a pragmatic, results‑oriented working method.
Alongside the four founding members – AECID, AFD, CDP and KfW – BGK officially joined the network in 2023, expanding the number of European countries participating in the initiative in full Team Europe spirit.
Since then, JEFIC has actively contributed to the European debate on the evolution of development finance, taking part, in line with the respective mandates of its member institutions, in discussions on the reform of the European financial architecture for development (EFAD) and cooperating with EU institutions.
The signing of the Co‑Financing Agreement in 2023 represented a decisive step in strengthening the partnership. Thanks to this instrument, network members have been able to share project pipelines, identify projects of common interest and build joint portfolios by selecting priority sectors of intervention and launching joint initiatives in partner countries.
