Russia and Africa: Sharing Knowledge in Digitalisation
A school focusing on the digitalisation of public administration for civil servants from African countries was held in Moscow in December 2023. The knowledge sharing event was organised by HSE University with the support of the Innopraktika non-state development institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The school proved the high demand for Russian training programmes — representatives of 23 countries and 3 international organisations received certificates following advanced training.
In Moscow, 44 high-level officials (including 26 heads of departments and a Minister,) had a busy week. The school organisers revealed that 15 countries requested an increase in the quota for the number of representatives, some of them multiple times.
Heads of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, the Federal Tax Service and other departments delivered lectures during the school. Representatives of the Moscow government, top managers and leading specialists of companies, including Sber, Rostelecom, Kaspersky Lab, non-profit organisations, and HSE teachers conducted master classes for the school’s participants.
Participants shared their experience of the digitalisation of public administration and its particular sectors at the national level and in regional organisations.
In addition, the school hosted a presentation of the book ‘E-Governance in Africa 2024: Opportunities and Challenges’, prepared by the team of authors from HSE University Centre for African Studies led by the Centre Director Andrey Maslov. Dr. Mactar Seck, the school participant, and Chief of Section – Innovation and Technology, UNECA, reviewed the book.
The school also featured a strategic session, during which the participants discussed the requests of representatives of African countries and inter-state organisations to Russian partners. The event organisers and participants agreed that this format of knowledge sharing was relevant and useful for both Russian companies and the African guests. Participants of the school received certificates in Russian and English.
Nikita Anisimov
At the graduation ceremony, HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov stressed the importance of these new graduates from the university, who will spread the word about HSE University, the education system in Russia, and keep in touch with their colleagues and Russian mentors. HSE University expects to organise a programme of academic cooperation, including student and teacher exchange, with leading universities in Africa.
Alexander Polyakov, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Africa Department, former Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Uganda and South Sudan, expressed gratitude to Innopraktika, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, which supported the school programme, and the Ministry of Finance, which allocated funds for its implementation. ‘I would like to especially mention the leadership of HSE University and HSE University Centre for African Studies in particular, which has done a great job to make this study week so productive,’ said the diplomat.
Polyakov added that representatives of Africa did not come just to study. ‘The Russian participants had a lot to share, but our African friends also brought unique and pioneering experience in their specific conditions,’ he said. The diplomat also expressed a keeness to support the development of similar programmes.
Anastasia Pavlenko
Anastasia Pavlenko, Deputy Executive Director - Director for Strategic Partnerships at Innopraktika, noted that the feedback received at the end of the programme confirmed its value and relevance for all participants.
‘This school, aimed at sharing knowledge in the field of digitalisation for African civil servants, is an example of the implementation of a new level initiative in our international cooperation. Thanks to the programme, jointly organised with HSE University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries, participants gained important professional and managerial experience,’ says Pavlenko. ‘I hope we’ll be able to implement similar practices in other areas.’
Representatives from HSE Centre for African Studies believe that HSE University has managed to develop a programme which was also of interest to those countries that do not currently have close political and economic ties with Russia.
The HSE Centre for African Studies specialises in expert and analytical work, studies the markets of African countries, and evaluates financial, legal and political risks. The main task of the centre is the comprehensive examination of projects implemented, or proposed for implementation, in Africa by enterprises with Russian participation.
The Centre consolidates the expert and analytical potential of HSE teachers and other experts whose research interests include African countries, as well as other organisations, in order to conduct research, prepare reports and recommendations and provide expert and analytical support for Russian enterprises and government authorities in their work with African countries.
The methodological support of the programme was provided by the Institute for Public Administration and Governance led by Vice-Rector Andrey Zhulin.
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