Constrained opportunities for path development: how misaligned agencies and structures shape Southern regional value chains

Abstract

This paper examines the emergence and growth potential of Southern regional value chains (RVCs) through the Trinity of Change Agency framework, focusing on the horticulture RVC in Namibia’s Zambezi region. The findings highlight that regional actors are crucial yet constrained by system-level structures, such as centralised governance and limited resources, impeding industry growth. This underscores the need for decentralised governance to empower regional actors to explore opportunity spaces and drive place-based development. This study contributes to understanding agency in shaping RVCs beyond dominant Global North case studies, offering insights into its potentials and challenges for inclusive development in the South.