The Institute is based on the Hub and Nodes model. The AIIKS has its Hub at the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS), at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. The CIKS is a Centre of Excellence (CoE) funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) through the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa. The CoE consortium consists of five (5) higher education institutions in South Africa, namely University of KwaZulu-Natal (CIKS hub), North West University (NWU), University of South Africa (UNISA), University of Limpopo (UL) and University of Venda (UNIVEN).
The AIIKS Nodes include the following Higher Education and Autonomous Research Institutions within and outside the African continent. The majority of the AIIKS member institutions are located in least developed countries in Africa.
| No. | Centre/Unit | Parent Institution | Country | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS) (HUB) | University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) | South Africa | Interdisciplinary Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems |
| 2 | IKS-Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Chair (IKS-MJNC) (NODE) | University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) | Tanzania | Languages and Culture |
| 3 | Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM) (NODE) | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) | Tanzania | Traditional Medicine |
| 4 | National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR); Department of Traditional Medicine Research (NODE) | Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC) | Tanzania | Traditional Medicine |
| 5 | Faculty of Science (FS) (NODE) | Eduardo Mondlane University (EMU) | Mozambique | Interdisciplinary Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems |
| 6 | National Institute of Traditional and Integrative Medicine (NITIM) (NODE) | Ministry of Health | Mozambique | Traditional Medicine |
| 7 | Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management (CoEB) (NODE) | University of Rwanda (UR) | Rwanda | IKS and Bio prospecting |
| 8 | Huye Biotechnology Laboratory (HBL) (NODE-Jointly with CoEB) | University of Rwanda (UR) | Rwanda | Medicinal plants and ethno-pharmacy |
| 9 | The Centre for Conflict Management (CCM) (NODE) | University of Rwanda (UR) | Rwanda | Justice, Peace, Security and Home-Grown Solutions |
| 10 | The Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS) (NODE) | Cote d’Ivoire | Interdisciplinary Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems | |
| 11 | ISAD (Institute of Anthropological Development Sciences) UFR (Training and Research Unit) SHS (Human and Social Sciences) Research of Human Society and Science Unit (ISAD-UFR-SHS) - (Archaeology Heritage, Memory, Culture, History, Identities) of SCALL Doctoral School (NODE) | Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny | Cote d’Ivoire | Archaeology Heritage, Memory, Culture, History, Identities |
| 12 | Agence Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique Appliquée (ANRSA) (NODE) | Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) | Senegal | Interdisciplinary Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems |
| 13 | Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre (PHARMBIOTRAC) (NODE) | Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) | Uganda | Pharm-Biotechnology,Traditional Medicine, Natural medicine -cosmetics and beverages |
| 14 | Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) (NODE) | Makerere University (MU) | Uganda | Food Technology and Nutrition |
| 15 | African Leadership and Management Academy (ALMA); an affiliate college of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) (NODE) | National University of Science and Technology (Bulawayo)(NUST) | Zimbabwe | Governance and Leadership |
| 16 | Multi-disciplinary Research Centre (MRC) (NODE) | University of Namibia (UNAM) | Namibia | Traditional Medicine |
| 17 | School of Natural Sciences (SNS) (NODE) | University of Zambia (UNZA) | Zambia | Interdisciplinary Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Intangible Cultural Heritage; Plant Natural Products |
| 18 | Office of the Registrar Research and Extension (NODE) | Kisii University | Kenya | |
| 19 | Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence | Universität Bayreuth /University of Bayreuth | Germany | African studies, Research Sections (RSs): Moralities, Knowledges, Arts and Aesthetics, Mobilities, Affiliations, and Learning. |