Africa-based organisations: Such organisations are those that are headquartered in Africa and originated with the mission of helping those on the continent. 

Africa-oriented organisations: Such organisations are not necessarily based in Africa, but whose mission provides for humanitarian efforts aimed at enhancing human welfare for those peoples living on the continent.

Capacity enhancement: Building on the existing or inherent capacity of organisations and their collective resources to enable a more effective and efficient organisational output.

Humanism: the promotion of human interests, values, and dignity, generally as outlined by key United Nations and African Union conventions and declarations.

Humanitarian: ACHA’s definition is broader than that which is commonly accepted.  ACHA defines activities as humanitarian if the action is humanist in nature and is taken with the wellbeing of humans in mind.  As such, activities that take place aside from circumstances caused by man-made or natural disasters are also considered humanitarian.