About the Center for African Studies
The HSE Center for African Studies was established in 2020 in response to the growing importance of Africa as an area of foreign policy and economic interaction for Russia.
The Сenter’s primary objective is to provide expert and analytical support to Russian companies and state agencies in their work in Africa, analyse risks, and identify opportunities.
Areas of Activity
Comprehensive analysis of African markets in priority areas (energy, ICT technologies and digital solutions, food, etc.), with an assessment of global and local risks.
Preparation and publication of expert analytical materials, reports and reviews on African development.
Preparation of yearbooks and expert analytical materials on e-governance in African countries.
Providing assistance to the e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Hub.
Regular publication of the Center's research results in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals, preparation of monographs and guide books.
Development of academic cooperation with other departments of the HSE University, as well as with leading Russian and foreign scientific and educational centers.
Involvement of HSE students in the Center's research activities.
Scientific guidance of course papers.
Support of the educational process and methodological support of the Center's activities.
Organization of internships for students of the «Africa Track» in partner organizations and within the Center.
Support for student initiatives and organization of events to attract applicants and increase student engagement.
Development and implementation of vocational training and capacity developing programs in Africa.
Implementation of the results of the Center's expert-analytical and scientific activities in educational products.
Expanding the portfolio of educational programs for Russian and foreign students.
Interaction with African partners in the field of ICT, digitalization and cybersecurity in the format of expert consultations and knowledge sharing.
Support of the Center's educational events and organized visits.
Preparation and adaptation of expert analytical and educational materials developed on behalf of the Center's activities.
Project activity
The Africa Track is a system of interconnected and integrated activities that will prepare economists and international relations specialists for working with African countries, gaining expert analytical skills, intercultural communication skills, and knowledge about the peculiarities of working in African countries.
The e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Program for African officials was launched in 2022 on the basis of the Center for African Studies of the HSE University and is aimed at improving public administration in African countries.
The Program is implemented with the support of the Russian President Administration, the Administrative Directorate of the President, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Innopraktika company.
By 2025, the HSE Center for African Studies has become Russia’s leading centre of expertise on the risks and opportunities for doing business in Africa.
Analytics
Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges
Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges serves as a handbook on Africa’s development, challenges, and opportunities. Its target audience includes government officials, businessmen, scholars, and experts. The handbook aims to provide an alternative positive vision on certain issues that Africa faces, including the fight for food and energy sovereignty, debt crisis, digital transformation, rapid urbanisation, and population growth. The book was prepared by a team of experts and scholars coordinated by the HSE University Centre for African Studies (Moscow, Russia).
Management
Publications
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Book
E-Governance in Africa 2024: Opportunities and Challenges
"E-Governance in Africa 2024: Opportunities and Challenges" is to serve as a handbook on digitalisation of public administration in African countries for African public authorities, businesses, research centres, and development institutions involved. The publication presents an overview of up-to-date information on e-Governance development in the region, trends, common challenges and solutions being implemented with a goal of shedding light on the diversity of e-governance initiatives in African countries. The book was prepared for the first session of the e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Program for Africa.
M.: HSE, 2023.
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Article
Russia in Africa: from Minority to Majority
This article analyzes the current stage of Russia-Africa relations in the run-up to the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit, focusing on the main achievements of recent years, the risks that may limit further progress, and the opportunities for building a more sustainable partnership. It argues that-although Russia has expanded political dialogue with African states, strengthened diplomatic and institutional engagement, and increased trade-Russia’s practical interaction with Africa remains vulnerable because of weak institutionalization, uneven project implementation, and lack of clearly defined strategic priorities. The article calls for a more selective approach to African partners and deeper engagement with states that possess greater regional influence, political stability, and economic capacity. It also argues that a pragmatic and durable Russian strategy in Africa should prioritize cooperation in certain sectors: agriculture; food, energy, digital, and information security; and education and knowledge-sharing.
Russia in Global Affairs. 2026. Vol. 24. No. 2. P. 142-153.
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Book chapter
The EAC and the Soft Power of Eastafricaness: Does it Have Limits?
The East African Community (EAC) is often used as a yardstick by the Africa Regional Integration Index, which at times cites it as the most integrated regional bloc. Recently, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joined the EAC seduced by its perspectives, and now, member states of the Community stretch from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Thus, it seems that the soft power of the EAC, including its spirit of Eastafricanness and Swahili as its lingua franca, is in force. Against this backdrop, this chapter examines the EAC’s pursuit of regional integration through the lens of soft and normative power, which collectively foster a shared East African identity, often conceptualised as “Eastafricanness”. However, the EAC faces many challenges, and its regional identity, crystalised in economic integration, is put to the test in other spheres, which might traditionally not have been its priority. This chapter ultimately calls for a proactive approach to sustaining the EAC’s achievements and mitigating potential risks linked to overextension and integration challenges.
In bk.: Understanding Soft Power in Africa. The Power of Attraction from Pretoria to Beijing. Routledge, 2025. Ch. 14. P. 178-193.
Contacts
Telephone
+7 (495) 772-95-90 ext. 15598