The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is helping young African animators build sustainable careers through a new initiative focused on creative skills, mentorship, and business development.
The Independent Animators Capacity Building Programme brings together 20 emerging animators from across Africa for a four-month programme running from May to August 2026. The initiative is designed to help participants strengthen their technical abilities while gaining the business knowledge needed to succeed in the creative industry.
Through the programme, participants will develop original animated short films supported by mini grants. They will also receive training in key areas such as intellectual property, budgeting, proposal writing, audience engagement, and partnership building.
The programme responds to challenges facing many young African creatives, including limited access to financing, industry networks, professional training, and market opportunities. While Africa’s animation sector is growing, many talented artists struggle to turn their creative skills into long-term careers.
The initiative is structured around four focus areas: Voice, Craft, Practice, and Reach. These pillars aim to strengthen participants’ storytelling identity, technical skills, entrepreneurial readiness, and access to audiences and markets.
UNDP is implementing the programme through partnerships with CAPACITI and UVU Africa, which provide mentorship, industry expertise, and learning support to participants.
The programme is part of UNDP’s timbuktoo Creatives Hub, an initiative designed to strengthen Africa’s creative and digital economy by supporting young innovators, entrepreneurs, and storytellers.
In 2025, the Creatives Hub supported dozens of African startups by providing mentorship, business development assistance, and connections to investors and new markets. The initiative is also contributing to efforts to position South Africa as a leading innovation and entrepreneurship hub on the continent.
By connecting young animators with skills, resources, and industry opportunities, UNDP aims to help Africa’s next generation of storytellers create globally competitive content while contributing to the growth of the continent’s creative economy.
