The AfAA is made up of a General Assembly; a Board of Directors; and a Secretariat. The Board of Directors consists of qualified African International Arbitration Scholars and Practitioners and provides strategic direction and guidance to the AfAA.  The Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General who is an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.  The Secretariat carries out the daily operations of the AfAA.

The AfAA is a non-profit private sector-led association.  It is the continent’s promotional body for international arbitration and other forms of international dispute resolution.  

Its members include leading African international arbitration and ADR practitioners as well as African arbitration institutions and initiatives.  Its role is to support the continuing development of international arbitration in Africa and to improve and recognise the international prominence of its members and their activities in international arbitration and international dispute resolution.  The AfAA also serves as a source of information on arbitrating in Africa.