The Innovative Urban Governance (IUG) Framing Paper is one of four papers outlining the research agenda for the Africa Urban Lab. Urban environments have historically served as laboratories for political, economic, and administrative innovation. In Africa, governance experimentation is particularly relevant due to the continent’s rapid urbanization, demographic trends, economic shifts, and evolving political environments. Many African cities operate within governance frameworks that are hybrid, blending formal state institutions with informal governance structures and community-led initiatives. This mix creates space for experimentation at multiple levels, within municipal governments—especially through polycentric governance and public-private partnerships—and in semi-autonomous zones such as SEZs and new cities. The Innovative Urban Governance (IUG) research cluster at the Africa Urban Lab (AUL) aims to deepen our understanding of how cities can act as laboratories for governance experimentation, institutional reform, policy entrepreneurship, and economic transformation across Africa, recognizing that governance structures play a critical role in shaping urban development outcomes.