Abstract

This paper offers a conceptual overview of the role of meta-organizations in environmental sustainability in an under-researched context of Africa. The current paper is one of the few
studies to offer a specific differentiation concerning meta-organizations concerning environmental sustainability in developed vs. emerging economies' settings. Then the paper further offers an in-depth assessment of meta-organizations’ role in environmental
sustainability in Africa, with reference to major hurdles in this concern. Our analysis reveals several problems with business only meta-organizations in Africa, which significantly limit meta-organizations' role in ensuring environmental sustainability in this region. These problems include competing interests resulting in failure to accommodate multiple stakeholders, lack of responsible investing and environmental stewardship, along with institutional voids. Finally, the paper offers several solutions, implications, along with pinpointing specific areas of research related to meta-organizations and sustainability in Africa, that future studies can pursue.