UNESCO and Triggerfish Foundation launch Creator Labs to empower women in Africa’s animation industry

UNESCO is joining forces with Triggerfish Foundation to launch “The Creator Labs”, an innovative initiative to empower women in the African animation industry. The Labs focus on technical and vocational education and training in animation production for television and feature films. This groundbreaking collaboration addresses gender disparities and promotes diversity, building on UNESCO’s partnership with Women In Animation. The new initiative aims to help women unlock their creative potential and establish leadership roles in animation.

“UNESCO's publication on the African film sector highlighted the lack of educational opportunities in the audio-visual field, and it disproportionately affects women. Our Creator Labs will help Africa’s homegrown talents skill up, build connections, and express their creativity through animation in all its diversity,” said Ernesto Ottone, R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, on the occasion of the partnership with the Triggerfish Foundation.

The Creator Labs will benefit four Sub-Saharan African countries: Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. It consists of two core components: 

1. Director Lab: A programme for 20 aspiring female directors 

2. Visual Development Lab: A training initiative for 20 African concept artists and art directors

Small-group mentorship sessions will offer the participants opportunities to pitch their projects and receive feedback to further improve their concepts. Guidance on how to protect their intellectual property rights will also be provided. These sessions address gender-specific challenges including securing equal pay, preventing discrimination and sexual harassment, and creating safe and sustainable work environments.

The Labs will also feature masterclasses and mentorship from award-winning directors and art directors, including: Ng’endo Mukii, Tshepo Moche, and Caroline Vos (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Disney+), Cinzia Angelini (Hit Pig!, Mila), Nadia Darries (Star Wars Visions Vol. 2, Lucasfilm), and many more pioneering African creators.

Training materials of the Creator Labs will be made available via the Triggerfish Academy, ensuring broad access for aspiring creatives across Africa. The programme will also leverage Triggerfish’s network of 8,000 African creatives and the African Women in Animation network, which comprises over 2,400 members.

"Empowering African women within the animation sector isn't merely an objective; it's imperative. Our collaboration with UNESCO to establish these Creator Labs in Africa signifies a noteworthy achievement in advancing gender equality in animation. By prioritizing leadership positions throughout the pipeline, we're not just cultivating creativity and innovation but also dismantling obstacles and forging a path toward a more inclusive and diverse industry”, said Carina Lücke, Director of Triggerfish Foundation.

The African film and audiovisual sectors employ approximately 5 million people and contribute USD $5 billion to the continent’s GDP; however, they have the potential to create over 20 million jobs and generate 20 billion USD in revenues per year.  Access to education, technical skills, and global networks—critical for career advancement and sustainable business—remain limited, particularly for women. Moreover, women in animation, especially women of colour, are underrepresented in leadership positions, and many lack access to international film financing and markets.

Through this partnership, UNESCO and Triggerfish are not only investing in individual careers but also in the future of a more inclusive, diverse and vibrant creative economy across the continent and beyond.