Fighting For Freedom And Justice Since 1953
Africa Action is the oldest organization in the U.S. working
on African affairs. We are a national organization based in Washington,
DC. Our work dates back to 1953, the year our oldest predecessor organization
was founded in New York.
Today, in partnership with activists and civil society organizations
throughout the United States and in Africa, Africa Action is working to
change U.S. foreign policy and the policies of international institutions
in order to support African struggles for peace and development.
By changing the policies of our own government, we have proven that we
can make a real difference.
Our History
Africa Action is the name we adopted in 2001, when three of the oldest
Africa advocacy groups in the United States merged to become one new organization,
working for political, economic and social justice throughout the African
continent.
Our predecessor organizations date
back to 1953, when the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) was founded
in New York. It was created by a group of black and white civil rights
activists who had organized support for the historic Defiance Campaign
in South Africa the previous year. ACOA, together with The Africa Fund,
which was founded in 1966, provided key support for independence movements
throughout Africa. They built strong networks of U.S.-based activists
that became crucial partners in the anti-apartheid struggle. (To read
George Houser's speech at our 50th Anniversary in 2003, click
here )
The Africa Policy Information Center (APIC) was founded in Washington,
DC in 1978. It pioneered the use of new information and communication
technology to support advocacy work on Africa.
With the merger of these three organizations in 2001, their complementary
strengths became a solid framework to organize activism for Africa in
the decades ahead.
Our Mission
Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic
and social justice in Africa. Through the provision of accessible information
and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure we work
to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational
institutions toward Africa.
The work of Africa Action is grounded in the history and purpose of its
predecessor organizations, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), The
Africa Fund, and the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), which have
fought for freedom and justice in Africa since 1953. Continuing this tradition,
Africa Action seeks to re-shape U.S. policy toward African countries.
Africa Action’s work is guided by a set of core beliefs:
We believe that the U.S. has a special historic responsibility toward
Africa;
- We believe that racism has been and is a major determinant of U.S.
policies toward Africa, Africans and U.S. citizens of African descent;
- We value Africa and the people of Africa and seek to work in partnership
with Africans;
- We believe in the principles of consultation, openness, accountability
and consensus.
Our Work
Just as our predecessor organizations took action to support African
efforts to defeat apartheid, today Africa Action is engaged in the struggle
against global apartheid – the international system of minority
rule that keeps Africa poor and marginalized.
- We provide information and analysis to change how people think about
Africa.
- We mobilize public pressure to change the policies of the U.S. and
multilateral institutions toward Africa, so that they support the efforts
of Africans themselves to promote human rights, democracy and development.
For information on our current programs and activities, see Programs.
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History & Mission
