The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is a regional inter-governmental organisation whose mission is to encourage and develop mutually beneficial collaboration between universities in East Africa, and between them and governments and other organisations, both public and private. It is one of the autonomous institutions of the East African Community (EAC), the umbrella body that brings together the Republics of Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The EAC aims at widening and deepening co-operation among the partner states in, among others, political, economic and social fields for their mutual benefit.

IUCEA assists Celtel Africa Challenge by serving as a liaison to the participating universities and in providing research support for the project.