The Centro de Estudos Africanos - ISCTE-IUL was founded in 1981. It promotes research activities in social sciences on Africa, with particular attention to Portuguese speaking countries.

Its main activities are the promotion, organization and management of multidisciplinary research projects, consultancy at national and international level, in various areas (namely, cooperation in development, and support to government and NGO decision-making processes), organization of conferences and seminars, the publication of research results by its members in national and international publications, and cooperation with teaching units (in particular, with ISCTE-IUL and with international partners).

CEA/ISCTE-IUL belongs to international cooperation networks connecting teaching institutions and research centres of African Studies, in Europe, Africa and Americas.