Olga Yepifanova: Technology Must Help Address Social Needs and Improve Quality of Life
Strengthening ties between Russia and African countries, including in the digital sector, will be a central theme of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026.
The summit will be held under the motto “For Peace, Security and Development.” The agenda will focus on economic cooperation, trade and investment, as well as nuclear energy, independent payment systems, food security, digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Ahead of the summit, Olga Yepifanova, a former member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation and chair of the Presidium of the All-Russian Public Movement, the Social Democratic Union of Women of Russia, spoke to the IT Russia media platform about how digital technologies can address social needs, make public services more accessible and strengthen cooperation between Russia and African countries.
– Today, ahead of the Russia–Africa Summit, as chair of the Social Democratic Union of Women of Russia and someone who has worked in the social sector for many years, I keep coming back to one central question: how can technology help individual people – women, children and older adults – live better lives? The 2nd Global Digital Forum, held in Moscow with representatives from African countries in attendance, showed that this question matters to others as well.
The forum brought together representatives from different countries to discuss digital development and technological cooperation. The next step will be the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, whose agenda includes digitalization, the development of payment systems, technology transfer and improving quality of life. It is important to link these priorities to concrete needs in the economy and social services.
From this perspective, I believe technological change should be judged above all by its impact on people. Digital services should make public and social services easier to access, help people manage everyday tasks and save time. At the same time, accessible in-person services must remain available so that new technologies do not create additional barriers for older adults and other vulnerable groups.
Artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities, but its adoption requires a responsible approach. We need to create conditions in which technology improves productivity rather than pushes people out of their jobs. That means expanding opportunities for professional training and retraining alongside the development of digital tools.
For Russia and African countries, technological cooperation can become one pillar of a long-term partnership. Sharing expertise and developing digital infrastructure must take each country’s needs into account. Payment systems that help maintain stable economic ties are another important priority.
The ultimate measure of successful digital development is the tangible difference it makes in people’s lives. Technology matters when it helps address social needs, expands opportunities for citizens and supports countries’ sustainable development.
