Vyacheslav F. Vdovin

Elena V. Haritonova

• Occupation: Senior Researcher
• Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
  
• Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

The article deals with the 23d General Assembly of the World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW) that took place in Marrakech in May 2022. The most relevant elements of the history of the WFSW are considered today. The goals and objectives of the Federation in the context of new global challenges and threats are defined. Today, WSFW sets itself the task of promoting the sustainable development of African countries that faced the facts of ignoring their interests by global multinational companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. WSFW members from the African continent and Russian representatives of the Federation assess this fact as a new round of neocolonialism. The authors pay special attention to the presentation of the concept of the “International Fund Dedicated to Research in Africa” developed by the WSFW, the purpose of which is to comprehensively promote and financially support the development of African science and education.

The article presents the most significant abstracts of reports made by members of the Federation and affiliated organizations during the scientific Symposium. The authors emphasize that the WSFW platform has been and remains an opportunity to use scientific diplomacy and soft power both in the system of global and “African” scientific communications, despite the very difficult situation in the world today.