12th of February 2026
Rating agency RAEX held a joint webinar with Risk Insights (RI), a leading African provider of ESG analytics. The event was attended by the Russian Trade Mission to South Africa.
The webinar marked the first practical step in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RAEX and RI, signed in December 2025. The partnership aims to strengthen interregional knowledge sharing and developing ESG assessment methodologies adapted to emerging markets and the Global South.
Petr Pavlenko, the Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in South Africa, opened the event and emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation: “The MoU between RAEX and RI is not merely a formal agreement. It represents a shared commitment to closing the intelligence gap between regions and to developing ESG frameworks that reflect the real economic and developmental trajectories of emerging markets”, said Mr Pavlenko. "This partnership ensures that Africa and the Global South are not only participants in the ESG dialogue, but active contributors shaping its future”.
Anushka Bogdanov, founder of Risk Insights, provided details of the ESG risks and opportunities on the African continent and demonstrated how artificial intelligence is transforming data collection processes and ESG rating methodologies: “Africa is often viewed through a narrow risk lens, yet the data tells a far more nuanced story”, said Anushka. “By applying AI-driven ESG analytics, we are able to better capture local realities, reduce systemic bias, and unlock sustainable investment opportunities that are frequently overlooked by traditional ESG models”.
As Anastasia Grechanaya, Head of ESG Project Development at RAEX, noted that the agency is proud of its international partnerships and strives to engage agencies to share their developments in the field of sustainability assessment. "Collaborating with our South African colleagues allows us to better understand the specifics of the Russian market relative to the African and global markets and to balance our own methods and approaches. The broader our network of international partners, the better we understand how to evaluate Russian companies", Grechanaya noted.
The strong level of attendance and active engagement throughout the session underscored the growing demand for region-specific ESG intelligence and for alternative analytical frameworks that extend beyond traditional Western-centric models.
