The African Studies Center also administers outreach programs related to business, government, and community.

Business

The Center has consulted with the State of Michigan International Business development Office in establishing Michigan trade offices in Lagos, Harare, and most recently, Johannesburg. In addition, the outreach program cooperates with the MSU Center for International Business, Education, and Research (CIBER) in their service to Michigan businesses.

Building on this tradition, in 2004 the Center, as a project of national outreach, is cooperating with the MSU CIBER and a consortium of other CIBERs headquartered at the University of Memphis to provide curricular information about and experience in Africa for business faculty at number of HBCUs. The Center is playing a central role in developing and African area studies seminars (in the U.S.) and business study tours to Africa for business faculty from participating HBCUs.

Government

The outreach program provides assistance with African initiatives at the local, state and federal levels in the United States. The program collaborates with the other MSU National Resource Centers in coordinating an annual seminar, Michigan and the Global Economy. The seminar is for state of Michigan legislators, state departments, and their aides. The ASC also works closely with the Greater Lansing Sister Cities program and sister cities in Ghana. In summer 2008 MSU co-sponsored the bi-annual African Sister Cities Conference that was hosted in Lansing, Michigan.

Community

The outreach program works with many religious and civic groups to develop programs in and about Africa. The program has worked with Church World Service/CROP to develop educational materials on hunger issues in Africa, and with local religious organizations and the Mid-Michigan Aids Awareness Council to establish an advocacy group to lobby in support of progressive HIV/AIDS policies in Africa.