ASESMA started in 2008 as a series of workshops held every two years in different African countries. The school received endorsement from the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) covering 2010–2020, with an extension into a new cycle spanning 2020–2030.
IUPAP commissions providing backing include those focused on physics development, computational physics, physics education, and condensed matter structure and dynamics. The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) serves as a primary supporter, offering financial resources, administrative infrastructure, and dedicated organizational personnel.
The fundamental premise underlying ASESMA centers on enabling advanced research through computational approaches. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on computational training alongside theoretical foundations in electronic structure methods, with applications extending into materials science, chemistry, and biological systems.