Africa is a vibrant, diverse continent that defies simple stereotypes. WashU faculty, students and staff are engaged in collaborative research and educational initiatives in more than 35 countries in Africa, with important contributions in the areas of public health, human development, and environmental research.

On campus, we have a vibrant, interdisciplinary intellectual community with deep ties to Africa. Multiple centers and programs foster collaboration and dialogue on issues related to Africa, including the African and African-American Studies department, the International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), SMART Africa Center, the Institute of Public Health, and the Global Health Center. 

When they say ‘It takes a village’ here, people think that is a made-up thing, but it really takes a village. That community, where you don’t belong to one family but to an entire village – that is what informs my work.

Fred Ssewamala

Research excellence

Faculty from all WashU schools and many different disciplines are engaged in collaborative work across the African continent. From leading economic empowerment interventions to developing therapeutic foods for malnourished children, our researchers are making a positive impact in Africa.

Seed grant initiatives and strategic partnerships with the University of Ghana and with Makerere University in Uganda provide a strong foundation to build further momentum for WashU’s engagement on the continent.

Primary school children in Masaka

Offering Hope in Uganda and Beyond

WashU professor, Dr. Fred Ssewamala, and his research team at WashU and in Uganda have been working for decades to alleviate the impacts of poverty on Uganda’s most vulnerable youth – orphans. They are creating economic empowerment and public health interventions that are making a huge difference in the lives of children, families, and communities in the African country.

More research stories

Archaeologists report earliest evidence for plant farming in east Africa

A trove of ancient plant remains excavated in Kenya helps explain the history of plant farming in equatorial eastern Africa, a region long thought to be important for early farming but where scant evidence from actual physical crops has been previously uncovered. In a new study published July 10 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society […]

Lemur’s lament, balancing conservation

What can be done when one threatened animal kills another? Scientists studying critically endangered lemurs in Madagascar confronted this difficult reality when they witnessed attacks on lemurs by another vulnerable species, a carnivore called a fosa. This dynamic can be particularly complex when the predation occurs in an isolated or poor-quality habitat, according to research […]

Nurturing research through Global Accelerator Grants

Since its 2020 inception, the McDonnell Academy Seed Grant initiative has served as researchers’ starting point. This year, we expanded it by integrating the McDonnell Academy Global Accelerator Grant, enhancing opportunities for endeavors gaining momentum. This crucial support nurtures initial ideas, ensures preliminary data collection, and propels projects to advance human health and humanity. Collaboratively […]

Education and outreach

WashU students have a variety of opportunities to explore the countries and cultures of the African continent. Numerous courses, centers, programs, and student-led initiatives on campus advance dialogue on topics related to Africa and promote appreciation of the dynamic cultures within the continent. Students can also gain hands-on experience solving real world problems on the ground in Africa through programs such as the Madagascar Sustainability Initiative and Engineers Without Borders.

Programs and partnerships

Department of African and African American Studies

The African and African-American Studies department offers opportunities for students to explore the social, political and intellectual history as well as the literature, culture and artistic life of the people and places of the African diaspora. Summer programs in Kenya and Senegal, as well as class trips and study abroad in other parts of the U.S. and global African Diaspora, can further enrich the student experience.

The department regularly sponsors lectures and events, such as plays, film festivals, exhibits, field trips, and panels and speakers, which focus on contemporary or perennial topics of interest in all areas of the Black experience. In many cases, guest lecturers and artists visit classes and interact directly with our students and others across the campus community. Through its scholarship, teaching, and broader engagement activities, the department fosters a vibrant and impactful social and intellectual community of African and African-American Studies. 

Madagascar Sustainability Initiative

A unique opportunity offered by the Center for Experiential Learning, the Madagascar Sustainability Initiative gives students hands-on experience with projects that promote sustainable economic development in Madagascar. Through a partnership with the Missouri Botanical Garden, students from diverse disciplines are challenged to develop and assess the feasibility of entrepreneurial solutions for poverty alleviation through the lens of environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Rural subsistence farmers in Madagascar often harvest resources from the forest to get by, putting pressure on the forest for everyday needs. Together with researchers from the Missouri Botanical Garden, students develop entrepreneurial solutions to tackle the twin challenge of addressing human needs and conservation of Madagascar’s biodiversity through community-based sustainable agricultural practices.  After spending a semester learning about economic and sustainability issues facing the country, student teams design and implement projects that hold out promise to decrease pressure on rare forests and improve the lives of the people in Madagascar.

African Students Association

The African Students Association (ASA) promotes intellectual, political, social, and cultural awareness about the African continent among members of the organization and the broader WashU community. Since 2005, the organization has shared African culture and provided an affinity space for African students through African family groups, bi-weekly general body meetings, events such as Africa Week, the ASA Fashion Show, the African Film Festival, and more. Follow ASA on Facebook!

Olin Africa Business Club

The Olin Africa Business Club seeks to increase awareness of business opportunities, the culture, politics and economic potential of Africa. It hosts signature events such as the Olin Africa Business Forum, which brings together international business leaders, renowned scholars, and cultural changemakers showcasing Africa’s impact on the global business landscape and strategizing ways to harness the immense potential across the continent. The programming includes panel discussions, an African-themed movie night, and a Taste of Africa event. Follow the club on Facebook!

Two people operate a clean water well system

EWB brings water to village half a world away

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) provides WashU students with an opportunity to serve and learn by implementing sustainable engineering projects.

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Alumni networks and impact

International networks support alumni, students, families, and friends of Washington University by offering opportunities to socialize, network, and share WashU memories. We welcome you to reach out, make new connections, and build on your lifelong connection with WashU.

WashU CNX is the university’s online networking platform where alumni and current students share experiences and expertise, ask questions, find answers, and help each other grow. They make meaningful connections every day.

NETWORK CONTACT

Tami Holder
Executive Director, International Advancement Programs

Markey Culver and women who work at the bakery

Empowering women in East Africa

Markey Culver, MBA ’17, leads The Women’s Bakery, an international social enterprise that empowers women in East Africa by creating access to education and sustainable employment through the establishment of bakeries. The organization trains East African women to build, operate, manage and sustain their own businesses.

More alumni stories

Champions for health equity

Before even graduating from the Washington University School of Medicine, classmates Yang Jae Lee, MD 2021 and Gautum Adusumilli, MD 2021 were already committed to solving some of the most pressing problems in global health equity.


Explore our impact in other regions

No single map can reflect all global perspectives. The country borders on this map do not reflect the official policy of Washington University in St. Louis or any specific government.