A Focus on the Global South: Russia–Africa Nonprofit Unveiled in Moscow
The new organization plans to support joint projects from partner matchmaking to pilot deployments and localization, with digital, space and maritime technologies among its priorities.
On Monday, October 19, the autonomous nonprofit organization Russia–Africa was unveiled in Moscow. Its founders are Innopraktika and PSB Bank. The presentation was attended by Natalia Popova, First Deputy CEO of Innopraktika; Pyotr Fradkov, Chairman of the Management Board of PSB Bank; Igor Chaika, head of Rossotrudnichestvo; Tatyana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department of Partnership with Africa at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Alexander Likhanov, CEO of the National Champions Association of Fast-Growing Technology Companies. Participants identified digital, maritime and space technologies, along with solutions for food security, as key areas for joint work.
Ready to Share Expertise
“Russia is one of the leaders in public-sector digitalization. We have not only developed effective homegrown solutions, but also demonstrated their resilience under external pressure. It is only natural that our African partners are interested in Russia’s experience, and we are ready to share it,” said Anastasia Pavlenko, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Innopraktika, in 2025 while speaking at the Russia–Africa business program at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Bilateral cooperation has continued to develop since then.
The Russia–Africa nonprofit is focused on providing long-term support. Its cooperation model has several stages: first, the organization studies the market; then it builds transparent, clearly defined partnerships; next, it launches pilot projects; and ultimately, it moves toward localizing the technologies. For Russian companies, this creates another route into African markets. Local partners, meanwhile, gain access to technology, scientific expertise and professional training.
The plan is for Russia–Africa to bring together the capabilities of Russian corporations, high-tech companies, universities and research organizations. It will also develop project consortia, business councils and technology hubs. The goal is to establish lasting relationships with African customers and with business, scientific and educational communities, while keeping projects focused on tangible results.
Tanzania’s First Satellite
One of Innopraktika’s most prominent technology initiatives in Africa is a technology hub in Tanzania. An agreement to establish it was signed in Dar es Salaam on March 25, 2026. The Russian side was represented by the National Champions Association, established at Innopraktika’s initiative. Tanzania’s partner was Generation Z, a company owned by Tanzanian philanthropist and entrepreneur Nurudin Musalam. The signing ceremony took place at Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Tanzania’s ambassador to Russia, Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta, in attendance.
The National Champions Association brings together 142 Russian high-tech companies with combined revenue of more than 847 billion rubles (approximately $10.3 billion). That scale adds to the significance of the initiative. “For our companies to remain national champions, they now need to be highly active in global markets, especially those in the Global South, and make use of the financial potential available in these countries,” said Alexander Likhanov, CEO of the National Champions Association. Tanzania is seen as a potential gateway for Russian technology developers seeking to enter East African markets. Local partners are particularly interested in digital tools for public administration, telecommunications, unmanned aerial systems and small satellites.
Space technology also has a practical role to play. In July 2026, Russian Ambassador to Tanzania Andrey Avetisyan said Russia was ready to help launch the country’s first national satellite. “We know that Tanzania aspires to explore space, and we are ready to provide our Tanzanian friends with full support, right up to creating and launching, say, Tanzania’s first satellite into orbit.”
Potential uses for the satellite include monitoring natural resources, coastal and marine areas, and national parks.
“Remaining National Champions”
Another potential Innopraktika project is also worth noting. The organization has announced plans to establish a technology hub with Russian drone and unmanned-systems company Geoscan and the University of South Africa (UNISA). The initiative is expected to include joint laboratories and student exchange programs. Geoscan is also expanding its presence in African markets, including by offering solutions for magnetic mineral exploration. The company is considering installing a station from its SONICS network, a software platform for an open network of ground-based systems, at the university. It is also exploring the launch of laboratories where Russian and African students, faculty members and engineers could share knowledge and hands-on experience.
Education is another important part of Innopraktika’s international work. In 2024, the organization opened its first lecture center in Dakar, based at Cheikh Anta Diop University. But it is more than a venue for lectures: it is a Russian media library where visitors can explore Russian culture, language and history.
The establishment of the Russia–Africa nonprofit is intended to take Russia’s cooperation with its Global South partners to a new level. Africa is getting closer.
