The IUCr Crystallography in Africa initiative supports the development of crystallography education, training, research and scientific infrastructure across Africa. Launched in 1999, the initiative works with universities, scientific organisations and other partners to expand access to crystallographic expertise, equipment and opportunities for collaboration.
Activities have developed from early crystallography courses into a wider programme that includes in-person and remote training, access to diffraction facilities, support for laboratory infrastructure, scientific schools and opportunities for students and researchers to participate in the international crystallographic community.
How does the IUCr support crystallography in Africa?
The Crystallography in Africa initiative focuses on building sustainable scientific capacity. Activities include:
- Training and crystallography schools, providing theoretical and practical instruction for students, researchers and university staff. Many activities have been organised through the IUCr OpenLab framework, a global capacity-building programme that combines crystallography teaching with practical training and access to instrumentation. OpenLabs in Africa form part of the wider IUCr Crystallography in Africa initiative.
- Remote crystallography through AFRAMED, enabling researchers to participate in measurements and training using remotely accessible diffraction facilities.
- Access to equipment and research infrastructure, including support associated with the installation and use of diffraction equipment at African institutions.
- Scientific collaboration, connecting researchers and institutions across Africa and with the international structural science community.
- Education and outreach, including activities that introduce crystallography and crystal growth to school students.
- Support for participation in scientific meetings, complementing wider IUCr funding and bursary programmes.
AFRAMED (Appui à la Formation et la Recherche en Afrique par des Mesures à Distance) is an IUCr–CNRS–UNESCO collaboration that expands access to crystallographic training and instrumentation.
The programme connects African students and researchers with diffraction facilities in France, allowing participants to carry out advanced diffraction experiments remotely from their home institutions. Training combines practical measurements with instruction in crystallographic methods and data analysis.
Recent training and outreach in Africa
Recent activities show how the initiative combines research training, access to instrumentation and science education across different regions of Africa.
Kenya Schools Crystallization Contest
Kenya held its first national schools crystallization contest in 2025. Sixteen teams comprising 66 students from five schools took part, presenting their crystal-growing projects through crystals, posters, logbooks and oral presentations.
The programme developed from earlier teacher training designed to introduce crystallography and practical crystal growth into school science.
Crystallography training in Togo and Côte d'Ivoire
A ten-day school provided training in crystallography and diffraction, including remote experiments. The programme combined local teaching with access to expertise and instrumentation through the AFRAMED project.
OpenLab Guinea
The first crystallography school in Guinea trained 20 participants from academia and industry in modern X-ray crystallography techniques, extending access to structural science training in West Africa.
Advanced training at Stellenbosch University
A crystallography programme at Stellenbosch University brought together 28 participants from six African countries. Following an introductory course, eight participants received an additional two weeks of intensive hands-on training in single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
AFRAMED training reports
Read about previous AFRAMED training sessions and participants' experiences in the IUCr Newsletter:
- AFRAMED Session 1, September 2022
A Recent and Ambitious Project for the Development of Crystallography in Africa - AFRAMED Session 2, August–September 2023
Bridging Continents through Crystallography: How AFRAMED is Revolutionizing Scientific Collaboration in Africa
These reports provide examples of how remote access to crystallographic instrumentation can support practical training, collaboration and research capacity across Africa.
Building access to crystallographic equipment
Access to suitable instrumentation is essential for developing sustainable crystallography research and training. Through the Crystallography in Africa initiative, diffraction equipment has been provided to universities and research institutions in Africa with support from instrument manufacturers and other partners.
The IUCr has contributed to the transport of donated powder and single-crystal X-ray diffractometers, while recipient institutions are responsible for installation and the continuing operation of the equipment. Training schools can be organised alongside new installations to help researchers and students develop the skills needed to use the instruments effectively.
The initiative also works to broaden access to crystallographic facilities through remote experiments and training programmes such as AFRAMED.
Supporting African researchers
The IUCr supports opportunities for African students and researchers to participate in crystallography schools, scientific meetings and international conferences.
Funding schemes, eligibility requirements and application deadlines can change. Researchers looking for current opportunities should visit the IUCr Support and Funding pages for up-to-date information.
From capacity building to a regional crystallographic community
The Crystallography in Africa initiative has contributed to the growth of a connected crystallographic community across the continent.
One important development was the establishment of the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA). The idea of creating a continental association developed through activities connected with the International Year of Crystallography 2014 and subsequent capacity-building programmes. AfCA was formally launched in 2021 and became an IUCr Regional Associate in 2023.
The Pan-African Conference on Crystallography (PCCr) has also developed into a regular forum where researchers, students and the wider crystallographic community can exchange research, develop collaborations and discuss the future of structural science in Africa.
Related organisations and initiatives
Explore programmes working alongside and building on the development of crystallography and structural science in Africa.
The African Crystallographic Association
Connecting and supporting the crystallographic community across Africa.
Pan African Conference on Crystallography
A recurring scientific meeting bringing together crystallographers, structural scientists and students from across Africa and beyond.
African Light Source Initiative
A pan-African initiative developing skills, collaborations and infrastructure towards an advanced light source on the African continent.
Governance and contact
The IUCr Crystallography in Africa initiative is coordinated through its Steering Committee and the IUCr's wider outreach activities.
For enquiries about current training, collaborations, equipment support or opportunities to contribute to the initiative, contact the IUCr Crystallography in Africa team.
Steering Committee:
Chair: Claude Lecomte
Members: Luc Van Meervelt, Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga (UNESCO), Andreas Roodt, Abdelmalek Thalal, Hocine Merazig, Patrice Kenfack, Romain Murenzi (TWAS), Michele Zema