African Centre for the Study of the United States

What African Centre for the Study of the United States does

The African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) is an academic research center hosted at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, focused on the study of US-Africa relations from an African perspective. ACSUS operates the Africa-US Forum website (africa-usforum.africa) as a digital platform for publications, policy briefs, conference proceedings, and webinar recordings, and produces over 50 tracked articles annually covering topics such as AGOA, health diplomacy, critical minerals, digital diplomacy, and African agency. It serves academic researchers, policymakers, students, and media commentators engaging on US-Africa diplomatic, political, and economic relations.

ACSUS is the coordinating body of the Africa U.S. Universities Initiative (AFUSI), a consortium formed in 2022 alongside USC's Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, Howard University's Center for African Studies, George Washington University's Institute for African Studies, and the Public Diplomacy Council of America. AFUSI convenes monthly forums, with physical events hosted under USC's auspices in Washington, D.C. ACSUS's product portfolio includes the Africa-US Forum website, ACSUS publications, the annual AFSA conference, the African Smart Cities Lab Initiative, health diplomacy webinars, and the Global South Immersion US–South Africa Academic Exchange Program. Distribution is amplified through partner university networks and a hybrid event model.

ACSUS operates as a non-profit academic institution with no commercial revenue. It is hosted by Wits, is led by academic staff including Dr. Bob Wekesa, and is funded through institutional support, consortium partnerships, and philanthropic donations. It has no disclosed pricing model, no commercial customer base, and no venture or equity funding structure.

Name

African Centre for the Study of the United States

Legal name

African Centre for the Study of the United States

Website

https://africa-usforum.africa

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACSUS is a non-profit academic research center at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg that coordinates the Africa-U.S. Universities Initiative (AFUSI) and publishes policy research on US-Africa relations for scholars, policymakers, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Academic Analysis

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK)

Keywords

• Africa-US relations research
• Policy analysis
• Academic research center
• Diplomatic dialogue forums
• International affairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACSUS is a non-profit academic research center that produces and disseminates research, policy briefs, and analytical commentary on US-Africa relations, while convening academic and policy communities through conferences, webinars, and a multi-university initiative. Its primary outputs are publications, the Africa-US Forum website, the annual AFSA Conference, the AFUSI monthly forums, and the Global South Immersion academic exchange program.

Product overview

ACSUS operates as a research and academic center offering a unified platform focused on Africa-US relations analysis. The core offering is the Africa-US Forum website, which serves as a repository and distribution channel for publications, event hosting, and newsletters. The portfolio includes policy research publications, the AFSA annual conference, AFUSI monthly forums, and newsletter subscriptions—all interconnected through the Africa-US Forum platform as the central hub for knowledge dissemination on US-Africa diplomatic, political, and economic relations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Africa-US Forum Website

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Africa U.S. Universities Initiative (AFUSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFUSI is a flagship initiative that brings together ACSUS (University of the Witwatersrand), the Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) at University of Southern California, the Center for African Studies at Howard University, the Institute for African Studies at George Washington University, and the Public Diplomacy Council of America. The initiative convenes monthly forums and webinars on Africa-US relations since the U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit in December 2022.
• Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) - University of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLP at USC co-organizes the Africa-US Forum monthly webinars and collaborates on the AFUSI initiative. Hosts physical forum events in Washington D.C.
• Center for African Studies - Howard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoward University's Center for African Studies is a key partner in the AFUSI initiative, contributing to monthly forum discussions and collaborative research on Africa-US relations.
• Institute for African Studies - George Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWU's Institute for African Studies participates in the AFUSI initiative, contributing academic expertise to monthly forum discussions on US-Africa relations.
• Public Diplomacy Council of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Public Diplomacy Council of America collaborates with ACSUS and other universities in organizing the Africa-US Forum and AFUSI initiative for diplomatic dialogue.
• USC Annenberg CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe USC Annenberg Center for Communication and Leadership and Policy co-organizes health diplomacy webinars and Africa-US discussions with ACSUS.
• Africa CDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a key African health institution in discussions on health diplomacy; ACSUS publishes analysis on Africa CDC's role in pandemic preparedness and health security initiatives.
• African Union CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in AU reform discussions; ACSUS publishes analysis on AU's external relations, financial autonomy, and reform processes.
• AUDA-NEPADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in discussions on the African Epidemic Fund and health financing initiatives; ACSUS publishes research on their collaborative health security efforts.
• Africa-U.S. Universities Initiative partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSUS collaborates with George Washington University, Howard University, the Public Diplomacy Council of America, the USC Annenberg Center, and the USC Institute on Inequalities on health diplomacy webinars and Africa-US forums.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Africa Growth Initiative: Washington-based initiative of the Brookings Institution conducting policy research on Africa's political economy and US-Africa relations. Comparable as an established publisher of Africa-focused policy analysis, though operating at substantially larger scale and from a US vantage point.
• Wilson Center Africa Program: Washington-based policy research program producing analysis on Africa within a broader international affairs portfolio. Comparable to ACSUS in Africa-policy-research scope and Washington convening presence, though part of a larger institutional setting.
• Chatham House Africa Programme: London-based international affairs think tank with a dedicated Africa Programme producing research and convening dialogues. Comparable to ACSUS in policy-research and convening scope, though operating at significantly larger scale from a European vantage point.
• Atlantic Council Africa Center: Washington-based think tank center focused on US-Africa policy, economic engagement, and security. Comparable to ACSUS in topical focus on US-Africa relations, though operating within a much larger Atlantic Council portfolio with broader thematic coverage.
• CSIS Africa Program: Washington-based think tank program analyzing US-Africa policy, security, and economic engagement. Comparable as a publisher of Africa policy analysis, but embedded in a much larger US foreign-policy institution with broader portfolio.
• Council on Foreign Relations Africa Studies: US-based foreign policy institution with substantive coverage of African affairs through research, convenings, and publications. Comparable to ACSUS as a producer of authoritative US-foreign-policy analysis touching Africa, but at a much broader institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa: Pan-African policy research organization analyzing human security, governance, and diplomacy across the continent. Comparable to ACSUS as a multi-office Africa-based think tank producing policy briefs and convening dialogues on international affairs.
• South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA): South Africa-based independent think tank producing policy research, publications, and convenings on African international affairs. Closely comparable to ACSUS in mission, geographic base, and academic-policy hybrid model.
• Africa Policy Research Institute: Africa-based policy research organization producing analysis on African political economy and international engagement. Directly comparable to ACSUS as an Africa-anchored policy research outfit targeting both African and international audiences.

Emerging players

• Centre for Africa Studies (University of Cape Town): South African university-based center conducting Africa-focused interdisciplinary research and convening. Comparable to ACSUS as a university-anchored Africa research center producing scholarly output and policy dialogue, though with broader Africa-studies scope beyond US-focused analysis.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acsus
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACSUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/africa-centre-for-the-study-of-the-united-states

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African Centre for the Study of the United States