Russia and Africa Discuss Joint Projects on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience

On 29 October 2026, Moscow hosted the session “From Land Degradation to Sustainable Development: Russia–Africa Cooperation on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience” as part of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum. Discussions focused on practical cooperation linking ecosystem restoration, food security and rural development.

The session was moderated by Oleg Kobyakov, Director of the Liaison Office with the Russian Federation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The programme featured Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; representatives of the governments of Namibia, Senegal and Egypt; Almoustapha Garba, Executive Secretary of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall; and Mikhail Sterkin, Deputy General Director for Marketing at PhosAgro.

A central theme was the shift towards concrete, funded projects. Ruslan Edelgeriyev proposed bringing together scientific research, the technological capabilities of businesses and the needs of African countries to develop demonstration projects for land restoration. It was proposed that practical discussions on this cooperation continue at a research facility in Volgograd. He also highlighted the assessment of ecosystem services in arid areas and the training of specialists capable of introducing technologies and providing long-term project support.

Yasmine Fouad emphasised that land restoration is directly linked to people’s well-being and security, protecting livelihoods and creating jobs. Cooperation should reflect differences between countries and respond to their specific needs. Accelerating progress requires scientific knowledge, technology transfer and greater private sector involvement. Particular importance was attached to investment models that combine ecosystem restoration with economic returns, alongside training young professionals and supporting local initiatives.

Senegal provided an example of practical approaches. Fatou Sagna, Technical Adviser to the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, outlined pilot projects under development in the south of the country to restore ecosystems and generate additional economic value. Community engagement, relevant skills and sustainable business models were identified as important conditions for implementation. The need for coordination with neighbouring countries was also highlighted as a means of scaling up joint action.

Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani, discussed land degradation, drought and water scarcity as interconnected challenges for agriculture and livestock production. Potential areas of cooperation with Russia included hydrological research, water resource monitoring, water purification and desalination technologies, and rangeland restoration. Particular attention was paid to processing encroaching trees and shrubs that reduce rangeland productivity. Using this biomass to produce charcoal or livestock feed could create additional economic opportunities. Solutions should combine scientific approaches with the knowledge of local communities.

Egypt’s Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Sherif Farouk, linked sustainable land and water management to reliable food supplies. He highlighted the importance of modernising grain storage, reducing losses and improving logistics. Discussions on Russian–Egyptian cooperation covered the possible establishment of a logistics hub for grain and other commodities, alongside the development of a digital system to trace products from producer to consumer.

The discussion highlighted demand for cooperation in which land restoration is accompanied by technology transfer, professional training and economic opportunities for local people. Further work is expected to include developing pilot initiatives involving governments, international organisations, research institutions and businesses to demonstrate the results of sustainable land management in specific locations.

📌 Source: Official website of the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum (summitafrica.ru).