Dakar, Senegal – 1 July 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, through the timbuktoo EdTech Hub, is launching a call for applications for startups and digital solution providers working in the fields of education, training and skills development.

About the Programme

With more than 100 million young Africans in need of inclusive, quality education adapted to local realities, technological innovation represents a critical lever for the future of education systems across the continent.

The programme aims to support African startups developing innovative, scalable EdTech solutions capable of contributing to the transformation of education systems.

Through the timbuktoo EdTech Hub, the programme seeks to strengthen African educational technology solutions, stimulate their institutional adoption, catalyse investment in the sector, generate evidence of impact, and contribute to the sustainable transformation of education systems.

Startups admitted to the programme will join the timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Network.

Programme Benefits

Selected EdTech startups will benefit from:

• a structured incubation programme delivered by leading African incubators;
• access to experienced mentors, entrepreneurs and sector experts;
• participation in a pan-African network of founders, incubators and ecosystem partners;
• access to the SIGMA digital platform;
• investment readiness support;
• access to acceleration programmes and early-stage investment opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• be based in Africa;
• offer a solution related to education, training or skills development;
• have a prototype that can be tested or deployed in a local context;
• have a committed team available to participate in the incubation programme.

UNDP particularly encourages applications from startups:

• led by women;
• originating from rural areas;
• integrating local languages or accessibility solutions.

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to submit their applications through the dedicated platform:

https://airtable.com/appYbpSCCV1VosC1M/pagMQfKHj9mIYPFyN/form

About timbuktoo

timbuktoo is UNDP’s flagship initiative to make Africa a global leader in innovation. Building on a continental network of technology hubs, timbuktoo aims to invest US$1 billion over 10 years, support 10,000 startups, scale 1,000 gazelles, transform 100 million lives, and generate US$10 billion in value across the continent.

The timbuktoo EdTech Hub, established in Dakar, is a pan-African centre dedicated to technological innovation in education. It aims to durably transform learning systems in Africa by supporting startups, governments, educational institutions and all stakeholders in the sector.

The Hub is a centre of expertise, innovation, data and public policy designed to:

• strengthen African educational technology solutions;
• stimulate their institutional adoption;
• catalyse investment in the sector;
• generate evidence of impact;
• contribute to the sustainable transformation of education systems.

Learn more:

https://www.undp.org/africa/projects/timbuktoo