AHEAD "fosters excellence in higher education" through a variety of ways, mainly by offering capacity building projects, project management services, and quality assurance activities to the NGO and donor community, including universities and research centres.

One of the core activities of AHEAD is to serve as the Uganda-based International Partner of the Ford Foundation's International Fellowships Program (IFP).

AHEAD is an institution whose mission embodies the capacity building required to move 'ahead' with a far-reaching transformative spirit, particularly for youth, young adults and marginalized populations within Africa.