Claasen, Cyrlene, Weir, David T.H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6750-6722 and Niess, Alexander (2026) Afro-Institutional Collaboration, Legitimacy and Capability Development in LMNE Internationalisation. In: Adams, K., Attah-Boakye, R. and Yu, H., (eds.) African Businesses in Global Spaces and Places. Sustainable Development Goals Series . Springer, pp. 123-140

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Abstract

African multinational enterprises—often referred to as African Lion MNEs—have become central actors in reshaping the continent’s engagement with the global economy. Operating across sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and energy, these firms are driving investment, employment, and technological upgrading. However, their cross-border expansion unfolds within environments characterised by regulatory fragmentation, infrastructural constraints, and historical legacies of external dependence. This chapter examines how and why African Lion MNEs form alliances, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships, and the outcomes of these collaborations. Drawing on comparative analysis of corporate documents, academic literature, and policy reports, it argues that collaboration is a structural necessity for African firms operating in institutionally volatile contexts. Alliances support capability building, risk-sharing, and legitimacy enhancement, helping firms navigate what has been termed the “liability of Africanness,” or the reputational and institutional challenges African firms may encounter globally. The chapter advances African-centred international business scholarship by introducing the concept of Afro-institutional collaborative capability: the ability of African MNEs to operate across multi-layered institutional landscapes through adaptive, relational, and socially embedded strategies. Empirical illustrations show that flexible governance and non-market engagement underpin successful collaboration. Ultimately, partnerships among African Lion MNEs not only strengthen competitiveness but also contribute to inclusive economic and social sustainable development. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Item Type:	Book Section
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1007/978-3-032-24231-0_8
School/Department:	York Business School
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/15575

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