Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) The mandate of the Africa Institute of South Africa is to focus on political, socioeconomic, international and developmental issues in contemporary Africa, and contribute to the goals of the NSI through research programmes that impact on knowledge production, human resources development, social science and innovation. The Institute's strategic goals over the medium term are to: . promote knowledge and understanding of African affairs through leading social scientists acting in concert and across all disciplines, and through training and education on African affairs; . collect, process and disseminate information on African affairs, give effective advice and facilitate appropriate action in relation to the collective needs, opportunities and challenges of all South Africans; and . promote awareness and consciousness of Africa at the grassroots level.