For 50 years, France’s commitment to aid in Africa was never seriously questioned; it was simply taken as a given. However, France’s unique approach, supported by a development policy energized and defined by this uniqueness, gradually shifted. The country aligned itself first with prevailing international theories, then with the reforms of the last 15 years. This profoundly diverted the original focus of development policy, with more attention paid to organizational constraints than to the needs of the intended beneficiaries. A tremendous legacy of know-how, forged through committed practice, has emerged from this political and human experience.