RAFU became a participant of the international discussion in the State Duma on cooperation with African countries

On May 22, the State Duma of the Russian Federation hosted a meeting of the Expert Council on the development and support of comprehensive partnership with African countries as part of the Humanitarian Forum “Russia-Africa: from realized projects to new achievements”.

The meeting was opened by Alexander Babakov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma. Among the participants of the meeting were deputies of the State Duma, representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation, scientific and educational organizations, business structures, development institutions, state corporations, non-profit public organizations, diplomats, experts, officials from African countries.

RAFU was represented by Maxim Zalyvsky, Head of the Project Office, who made a report “Problems, Challenges for Education in Africa. Opportunities and prospects of Russian-African scientific and educational cooperation”.

“Traditionally acting as a supplier of unprocessed products (oil, minerals, agricultural products), Africa today pays special attention to the transformation of the economy from extractive to industrial. The key factors of this transformation are the training of highly qualified personnel and the development of technologies,”Maxim Zalyvsky noted.

“There is a gradual realization at the state and institutional level that investment in education and science is key to sovereign development and, by extension, to achieving subjectivity in contemporary international relations,”the rapporteur reported.

“In order to overcome current challenges, African countries are attracting funding from international organizations, foundations and the private sector. Foreign experts, including those from Russia, are also involved in the formation of modern concepts for the development of education systems, the creation of new universities, in particular, to ensure the training of qualified personnel and, accordingly, technological development. As a striking example, Maxim Zalyvsky cited the establishment at the end of 2024 of an expert group to develop the concept of reforming higher education in Mali, which included representatives of leading Russian universities and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Mali. One of the tasks of joint work with the Malian side will also be the creation of the concept of a modern polytechnic university of international level in the Bandiagara region (in the east of Mali),” Maxim Zalyvsky informed the participants of the meeting.

As part of the session, the State Duma hosted the grand opening of the exhibition ‘Humanitarian co-operation between Russia and Africa. Mission of Kindness’, timed to coincide with Africa Day. The exhibition presented the main results of co-operation between Russia and African countries in various areas. One of the stands dedicated to co-operation in education presented general information about RAFU. Also at the information stands visitors could find information about other members of the RAFU consortium - Lomonosov Moscow State University, Patrice Lumumba RUDN, S.O. Makarov State Maritime University.

The Humanitarian Forum ‘Russia-Africa: From Implemented Projects to New Achievements’ is designed to summarise the results of the implemented projects and promote further cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia and African states in the fields of culture, education, information, sports, social projects, diaspora partnership and women's agenda.