Alena Peryshkina Takes Part in BRICS Civil Forum 2026 in New Delhi
Alena Peryshkina, Director of the Infosvyaz Foundation and Co-Chair of the Russian part of the BRICS Civil Council, took part in the BRICS Civil Forum 2026 held in New Delhi under India’s BRICS Chairship. The forum brought together around 350 delegates representing 80 organizations, experts, civil society representatives from BRICS countries and the Government of India. The discussions focused on people-centered and sustainable development, healthcare, education, digital transformation, environmental protection and social policy.
Peryshkina’s participation focused on people-centered development and the importance of cross-sector cooperation in addressing complex social challenges. Speaking at the plenary session “Dialogue on People-Centered Development and Entrepreneurship,” she stressed that putting people at the center of development requires not only changes within individual organizations, but also effective cooperation between different systems, including healthcare, social services and education.
“The transition to a people-centered approach is particularly challenging because it requires not only large teams, but also well-coordinated interagency cooperation. Simply appointing a coordinator is not enough: the more complex the problem, the more specialists need to be involved in addressing it. At the same time, achieving genuine people-centeredness within a single organization is impossible: most challenges are cross-sectoral and require the involvement of different systems, including healthcare, social services and education.”
The accessibility and quality of social services were among the cross-cutting issues discussed at the forum. Sectoral working groups addressed the development of primary healthcare in hard-to-reach areas, the use of mobile medical teams and clinics, telemedicine and digital services, as well as stronger public monitoring mechanisms. These areas are directly linked to the goal of reducing inequalities in access to healthcare and improving the effectiveness of health systems.
Another important theme was the localization of solutions. Participants noted that universal models do not always provide effective responses to the challenges faced by different countries and communities. Practical initiatives need to take national and regional contexts into account, draw on local experience and expertise, and involve communities themselves in designing and implementing solutions. Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS-Russia Expert Council and Co-Chair of the Russian part of the BRICS Civil Council, emphasized this approach during the opening plenary session.
“Civil society initiatives are not an addition to the BRICS agenda - they are its supporting foundation. The most viable solutions emerge from the ground, from the real needs of communities: they better reflect local circumstances, can be scaled up more quickly and deliver measurable social impact. Our task is to create transparent mechanisms that ensure the voice of civil society systematically contributes to the strategic decisions of the association.”
The forum also addressed practical approaches to fostering innovation and strengthening resilience to climate-related risks. Particular attention was given to the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to reduce rather than deepen social inequalities, as well as to the role of local communities in emergency preparedness and climate change adaptation.
Following two days of discussions, the BRICS Civil Council prepared a set of practical recommendations incorporating proposals from delegates, sectoral working groups and roundtable participants. The recommendations are expected to be submitted to the BRICS leaders ahead of the upcoming summit. The forum therefore served not only as a platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise, but also as a mechanism for developing concrete proposals for the further advancement of cooperation among BRICS countries.
For the Infosvyaz Foundation, participation in the BRICS Civil Forum marks a continuation of its efforts to promote international professional dialogue and practical approaches to healthcare and social development. The Foundation’s engagement in the BRICS dialogue provides an opportunity to bring civil society expertise directly into discussions on solutions aimed at improving access to essential services, strengthening cross-sector cooperation and enhancing people’s quality of life.