CIC General Assembly 2026

Day 1 Spotlight (17 April): Wildlife Economy

Day 1 of the Assembly centres on the theme of the wildlife economy, with sessions exploring how wildlife-based systems can support conservation, livelihoods, and sustainable development across diverse contexts.

Global Wildlife Economy Panel (11:15 – 12:00)

AWEI’s Lydia Daring Bhebe will participate as a panellist in a discussion following a keynote by Shane Mahoney.

Her contribution will bring a grounded African perspective, drawing on regional policy frameworks such as the SADC Wildlife-Based Economy Strategy and current research in the South African game meat sector. It will highlight how wildlife economies in Africa are increasingly understood across shared landscapes.

The discussion will further reflect on:

• The importance of governance and coordination across sectors

• The role of wildlife economies in supporting livelihoods and rural systems

• Key challenges in aligning conservation, food systems, and public health

Wildlife Economy in Depth: Rural Policy & Public Legitimacy (14:20 – 15:00)

This session will explore the broader policy and societal dimensions of wildlife economies, including questions of public legitimacy, rural development, and governance frameworks.

These discussions align closely with AWEI’s work on enabling conditions for sustainable use, particularly the need for policy coherence, institutional coordination, and inclusive participation in shaping outcomes across wildlife-based systems.

Day 2 Spotlight (18 April): Governance & Institutional Processes

While Day 2 focuses on the CIC Members’ Assembly and institutional processes, it remains relevant to the wildlife economy through discussions on governance structures, decision-making, and coordination mechanisms that influence how wildlife economies are implemented in practice.

These processes are critical in shaping the regulatory and institutional environments within which sustainable use and wildlife-based enterprises operate.