The Lab
About UPLAB Afrique
An independent lab born from a simple observation: Africa's secondary cities are steering their own transformation without the tools their stakes demand.
Vision
To become Africa's reference for territorial foresight, urban governance, and applied innovation in secondary cities — a continent where every local authority, whatever its size, has the means to anticipate its own transformation.
Mission
Supporting territorial authorities, public institutions, civil-society organizations, private actors, and technical and financial partners in strengthening local governance, anticipating urban change, and producing knowledge that informs decision-making.
Values
Innovation
Seeking solutions fit for secondary cities' real context, rather than importing models built for metropoles.
Professionalism
Producing rigorous, verifiable work that meets international standards of applied research.
Collaboration
Building with local actors, not for them — governance strengthens through shared practice.
Sustainable development
Grounding every recommendation in a trajectory that territories and their populations can sustain.
Governance
UPLAB Afrique is guided by a scientific council and an executive direction that safeguard the independence of its work and the rigor of its method. The Lab's full governance bodies will be published as it structures further.
Section to be completed with the Lab's real governance bodies.