The Nordic Africa Institute is a centre for research, documentation and information on modern Africa in the Nordic region. The institute's activities are based on three pillars: research/policy work, publishing activities and a library/documentation centre. Besides producing its own research, the Institute also stimulates research on Africa in the Nordic countries and promotes cooperation between African and Nordic scholars. Networking is included in promotional activities, primarily expressed by researchers’ networks, institutional partnerships and scholarships programs for African researchers and writers. The programmes strengthen the scholarly exchange between African and Nordic research communities.

The library is one of the core activities of the Institute. It is charged with monitoring and making available literature and other electronic and physical information carriers of relevance for research, study and information about modern Africa. At the beginning of 2000, discussions were initiated about setting up a guest librarian programme.