HSE Center for African Studies held a Conference on Applied Research

On September 11, 2026, the HSE Center for African Studies concluded its Conference on Applied Research. The two-day event at the HSE University Cultural Centre focused on the most important challenges in the development of contemporary Africa and promising areas of Russia–Africa cooperation.

The event brought together representatives of Russian federal executive authorities, Russian companies and development organizations, the African diplomatic corps, universities, and leading research centers.

The Program of the Conference is available here.

Opening the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by Denis Agafonov, Head of the Presidential Expert Directorate; Tatiana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department for Partnership with Africa (DPA) at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Tatiana Vasilyeva, Vice-Rector of HSE University. 

Tatiana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department for Partnership with Africa (DPA) at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. 

«I would like to congratulate the HSE Center for African Studies, its leadership and staff on its sixth anniversary. Over this period, the Center has established itself as one of Russia’s leading expert and analytical platforms in the field of African studies». 

«An important distinguishing feature of the Center’s work is the applied nature of its research and its focus on practical outcomes», – Tatiana Dovgalenko noted.

Tatiana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department for Partnership with Africa (DPA) at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

HSE University

HSE University Vice Rector Tatyana Vasilyeva noted that the HSE University and the Center for African Studies have become the country’s leading expert platform on African affairs.

«It is great to see that our University has become a centre of expertise on Africa in a relatively short period of time. The HSE Centук for African Studies is now one of Russia’s leading expert institutions in this field.

Like any scientific and practical conference, this event gives us an opportunity to share the results of our work over the past year, discuss new developments in African studies, and look at the key areas for future research.

It is especially important that the conference is taking place ahead of the Russia–Africa Summit, giving all participants an opportunity to exchange views and align their priorities», – Tatyana Vasilyeva noted.

On September 10, the conference featured a presentation of the key results of the HSE Center for African Studies’ expert-analytical and educational activity. These included the presentation of the new expert and analytical publication Africa 2027. Opportunities and Risks, the Module on Digital Solutions for Food Sovereignty in Africa, developed by experts of the Center with the support of Innopraktika and hosted on the e-Governance Knowledge Hub; and the comprehensive Socio-Economic Map of Africa.

During the panel sessions on September 11, participants discussed training specialists to work with African countries, the role of education in strengthening Russia–Africa cooperation, investment cooperation, and practical steps towards ensuring the digital sovereignty of African countries.

The sessions also featured the Russia–Africa Investment Hub, launched with the support of the Roscongress Foundation. The Hub serves as a platform for collecting, preparing, presenting, and supporting investment projects aimed at the sovereign development of African countries.

During the closing ceremony, Alexei Kleshchev, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Anastasia Pavlenko, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Innopraktika, Ksenia Bolomatova, Deputy General Director of United Grain Company and Executive Director of the Russian Grain Association, and Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, congratulated the Center for African Studies on its sixth anniversary.

The ceremony also included an award presentation for graduates of the educational Africa track, followed by concert featuring the folk ensemble Krapiva and the HSE Africa Club.

Throughout the Conference, the HSE University Cultural Centre Lobby hosted information stands showcasing the key projects of the HSE Center for African Studies, along with its publications. In addition, there was an exhibition, where students of the Africa track and African students of the HSE University presented the results of their joint research projects.

The text is being updated.