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 requiring relatively modest financial resources. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on computational training alongside theoretical foundations in electronic structure methods, with applications extending into materials science, chemistry, and biological systems.
Over the years, ASESMA has grown from a regional initiative to a continent-wide program, drawing participants from across the African continent and featuring internationally recognized lecturers from leading research institutions worldwide. Each edition builds on the last, fostering lasting research networks and collaborative partnerships that extend far beyond the school itself.
The initiative has also spawned a galaxy of independent but coordinated activities: regional schools (CASESMA in Central Africa, SASESMA in Southern Africa), the ASESMANET continental research network, the US-Africa Initiative in Electronic Structure (USAfri), and regular mini-lecture series that keep the community engaged between biennial schools.