- To offer specialized and focused training courses and research programmes to advanced students, scholars, practitioners, government and private sector officials on various aspects of international law;
- To enhance the teaching and research capacities of associated African law faculties in the field of international law and the law of the African Union and of African regional organizations;
- To develop the capabilities of officials of the Justice and Foreign Affairs ministries, who are the key actors in international litigation and negotiations;
- To contribute to more stable and rule based inter-governmental relations within the continent by creating a wide pool of legal skills in the field of international law;
- To promote scholarly publications and research on various issues of international law of particular relevance to Africa and provide a platform for wide dissemination of such publications in all the official languages of the African Union; and
To establish fellowship programmes for African and foreign scholars engaged in research on subjects of direct relevance to international law in Africa, the law of the African Union and the legal dimensions of political and economic integration among African countries utilizing the Institute’s library facilities