The wild meat (WM) trade, a vital economic and cultural force in Southern Africa, demands robust governance to balance sustainability, equity, and biodiversity conservation. As global demand for wild meat surges, effective governance of wild meat global value chains (WMGVCs) is essential. This short article draws on a theoretical framework recently published in the African Journal of Public Administration and Environmental Studies, analysing five governance typologies: hierarchy, captive, relational, modular, and market, to offer strategic insights for stakeholders and foster a sustainable wild meat (WM) industry.

Hierarchical Governance - ensures centralised control, ideal for vertically integrated WM operations. In South Africa, private ranches that manage the entire chain, from harvesting to retail, exemplify this model. It enforces strict sustainability and traceability standards, aligning with EU import regulations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products to global markets. This typology suits large-scale producers prioritising conservation and compliance but requires significant investment.

Captive Governance - thrives in systems where processors or abattoirs dominate, setting stringent standards for hunters and ranchers. Common in Namibia and South Africa, this model promotes specialisation, such as the production of tailored meat cuts for export markets. It supports local communities through contracts but demands strong oversight to prevent dependency and ensure equitable benefits, enhancing traceability and sustainability.

Relational Governance - emphasises collaboration, balancing community control with market access. In Southern Africa, long-term contracts between ranchers, abattoirs, and wholesalers establish strong linkages, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving. This typology supports sustainable harvesting by aligning local practices with global standards, making it ideal for community-based conservancies seeking economic and ecological balance.

Modular Governance - focuses on standardised, high-quality production with flexible supplier relationships. In South Africa, private abattoirs that contract hunters for specific species, such as zebra for the European market, exemplify this approach. It ensures consistent supply and safety standards but requires investment in technology and training to maintain quality, offering scalability for export-driven markets.

Market Governance - dominates decentralised, independent WM chains, where middlemen drive trade. Prevalent in less-regulated African regions, this typology offers a broad market reach but struggles with issues of traceability and sustainability. For instance, illegal WM trade through Brussels highlights governance gaps. South Africa can lead by implementing regulatory frameworks and certifications to curb illegal practices and ensure fair trade.

To enhance the sustainability of wild meat global value chains (WMGVCs), African nations can strategically apply the five governance typologies—hierarchy, captive, relational, modular, and market—tailored to regional contexts. Implementing advanced traceability mechanisms, such as distributed ledger technologies, alongside robust certification systems and inclusive community-based partnerships, can strengthen accountability across these governance models. Specifically, hierarchical governance can ensure stringent control for conservation compliance, relational governance can foster collaborative networks to integrate local stakeholders, and market governance, when underpinned by rigorous regulatory frameworks, can mitigate risks of illegal trade. This strategic alignment of governance structures with ecological and socio-economic objectives not only safeguards biodiversity but also enhances livelihood opportunities, positioning African countries as leaders in ethical and sustainable wild meat trade across diverse species

Read more about the framework here