This working paper is the first in a series produced by Space for Giants and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) entitled ‘Building a wildlife economy’. The series has been commissioned to inform a framework for the African Union and its member nations for the optimum use of wildlife to diversify and expand their economies, strengthen the livelihoods of their citizens, and achieve ecological resilience in the face of pressing modern social and environmental challenges. Conservation Capital were the lead technical authors of this Working Paper.