ASSAf aims to remain independent of government and sectoral lobbies and to:

• Use best-available evidence and scientific knowledge as drivers towards generating recommended solutions to national problems;
• Apply multi-disciplinarity and consilience in approach;
• Adhere to the highest ethical and moral standards;
• Recognise the essentially developmental nature of our society and the importance of the natural environment, both for their own sake and from a human and utilitarian perspective.