During the 17th AMCEN Ordinary Session, the Conference tasked the AMCEN Secretariat to develop a regional cooperation framework on advancing a “Biodiversity Economy”. The AMCEN Secretariat has since engaged UNEP, the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in discussions on this subject. As a precursor to development of a regional cooperation framework per se, this background document entitled has been prepared by UNEP in consultation with DFFE, SANBI and UNECA. A consultation workshop on the document was hosted by DFFE on 26 January 2022. This document covers the following: definitional issues for consideration in scoping what is intended by ‘biodiversity economy’ in the African context; possible objectives of a regional cooperation framework; the policy landscape and ongoing related national, regional and global initiatives; means to quantify the biodiversity economy and to promote investment therein; a selection of case study applications from the continent; and an assessment of the challenges for scaling-up the biodiversity economy in Africa. This background document is tabled for consideration and further guidance from Parties on the way forward for development of the regional cooperation framework, noting that financial resources would be required to further support this process.