ACHA defines as follows a number of key terms that relate to its work:

Africa-based organisations: Such organisations are those that are headquartered in Africa and originated with the mission of helping those on the continent.

African-oriented organisations: Such organisations are not necessarily based in Africa, but whose mission provides for humanitarian efforts aimed at enhancing human welfare for those peoples living on the continent.

Capacity development: The enhancement of organisational skills in the areas of management and programme implementation. Such development may take place with or without direct outside support.

Humanism: the promotion of human interests, values, and dignity, generally as outlined by key United Nations and African Union conventions and declarations, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Humanitarian: ACHA’s definition is broader than that which is commonly accepted. ACHA defines activities as humanitarian if the action is humanist in nature and is taken with the well being of humans in mind. As such, activities that take place outside of situations of man-made or natural disasters are also considered humanitarian.