UNDP Creating Opportunities for Young African Animators in Africa's Growing Creative Economy

Across Africa, young animators are reshaping how the continent tells its stories, yet many struggle to access the skills, financing, industry networks and market opportunities needed to turn creative talent into sustainable careers. Through timbuktoo initiative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is helping bridge these gaps through the Independent Animators Capacity Building Programme, which brings together 20 emerging animators from across Africa in a four-month initiative combining technical training, mentorship and practical business development support.

Running from May to August 2026, participants will produce original animated shorts supported through mini grants while strengthening the entrepreneurial capabilities needed to navigate the realities of the creative industry.

Beyond strengthening technical skills, the programme recognises that creative talent alone is often not enough to build sustainable careers. Participants will engage with practical areas such as intellectual property, budgeting, proposal development, audience engagement and partnership building, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate the business realities of the creative sector.

The programme is structured around four pillars — Voice, Craft, Practice and Reach — designed to strengthen participants' storytelling identity, technical capability, business readiness and market access. By combining creative development with entrepreneurial learning, the initiative seeks to prepare animators not only to produce compelling work, but also to build sustainable careers within the industry.

UNDP is working with CAPACITI and UVU Africa as implementing partners to deliver the programme, who will provide structured learning support, mentorship and ecosystem expertise throughout the participants’ journey. Their contribution helps strengthen programme delivery while ensuring participants benefit from industry-informed training and connections.

This programme forms part of the UNDP timbuktoo Creatives Hub, launched to strengthen Africa's creative and digital economy by expanding pathways for young creatives to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs and storytellers. 

In 2025, the Hub supported 47 pan-African start-ups to scale their enterprises, 80 percent of which were youth-led and 63 percent women-led. Entrepreneurs gained access to mentorship, business development support and opportunities to connect with new markets, partners and investors. Together with initiatives such as the UniPod, the Hub is helping to position South Africa as a continental innovation and enterprise hub by strengthening the ecosystems that connect young entrepreneurs, universities and markets across Africa.

By connecting young creatives to the partnerships, resources and support systems they need to succeed, UNDP is helping ensure that Africa's next generation of storytellers does more than imagine the continent's future; they help create it.

About UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in more than 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilient nations. In South Africa, UNDP partners with government, civil society, the private sector and communities to advance inclusive growth, innovation, youth empowerment and sustainable development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About timbuktoo

timbuktoo is UNDP's pan-African innovation initiative designed to unlock the potential of Africa's entrepreneurs and innovators. By bringing together governments, investors, universities and the private sector, timbuktoo supports young people to transform bold ideas into scalable businesses through access to innovation spaces, mentorship, financing and markets. The initiative aims to mobilise US$1 billion over 10 years to support 10,000 startups, scale1,000 high-impact enterprises, and improve 100 million livelihoods across the continent.