The Network for Analytical and Bioassay Services in Africa (NABSA) was founded in 1992 for the purpose of finding ways of assisting scientists working in isolation and in various facility-constrained institutions and less enabling environments in Africa.

Initially four laboratories in Eastern and Southern Africa (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, University of Nairobi, Kenya, the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology – ICIPE, Kenya, the Institut Malagache de Recherches Appliquées in Antananarivo, Madagascar) participated in offering services to African scientists. Addis Ababa University offered 90 MHz NMR, Optical rotation and Infrared measurements, University of Nairobi availed its insect antifeedant and mosquito larvicidal assayS and electronic spectra services, ICIPE (Nairobi) furnished MS and GC/MS analyses while the Institut Malagache de Recherches Appliquées in Antananarivo provided antimalarial assays.

In 1995/96 University of Botswana joined the NABSA participating laboratories and availed its MS and NMR instruments. Since 1995/6 most of the services have been rendered from Botswana.

NABSA has introduced changes in the nature and scope of its services in response to the perceived needs of African scientists. Accordingly greater emphasis is now given to spectroscopic services, and research visits. The setting up of remote NMR-workstations in the University of Dschang (Cameroon) and the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) was made as a strategic move to provide more effective support to dedicated groups, and is a live testimony of the achievements of the objectives of NABSA.