Digital Democracy Initiative Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Democracy Hackathon 2025 – Opportunity Desk – YOA

Deadline: April 30, 2025

Applications are open for the Digital Democracy Initiative Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Democracy Hackathon 2025. The Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Democracy Hackathon is part of a world sequence of regional hackathons celebrated within the framework of the Digital Democracy Initiative.

Organized by Magamba Network in partnership with CIVICUS, the hackathon will carry collectively civil society innovators, builders, and activists to create know-how-pushed options that strengthen democratic participation throughout Africa.

Hackathon Challenge

Create know-how-pushed options that strengthen democratic accountability, shield activists in repressive environments, and fight the unfold of disinformation throughout Africa.

• Digital Governance & Accountability: Develop and implement progressive digital options that allow residents to independently monitor governance, monitor public providers, and demand accountability from elected representatives and establishments.
  • Foster giant-scale citizen mobilization
  • Create instruments that collect significant knowledge
  • Serve as catalysts for sustained advocacy
  • Drive coverage change by way of citizen motion
• Digital Security & Activism: Create holistic methods that unite digital safety and activism to guard civil society actors, particularly in repressive environments.
  • Develop cybersecurity sources
  • Build safe communication platforms
  • Create instruments that empower activists to function safely
  • Support advocacy for social change
• Combating Disinformation: Address the important threats posed by disinformation and low digital literacy by creating progressive options.
  • Create AI-pushed truth-checking instruments
  • Build misinformation monitoring platforms
  • Develop interactive digital literacy packages
  • Equip residents with important evaluation abilities

Benefits

Participating on this hackathon comes with thrilling alternatives for development, visibility, and assist.

• Funding Awards: They are giving 5 subgrants, $7500 every.
• Team Selection: A complete of 5 groups will probably be chosen based mostly on the affect, innovation, and feasibility of their concepts.
• Post-Hackathon Support: Selected groups can have entry to incubation alternatives to additional develop and implement their options.
• Recognition & Networking: Gain regional recognition, join with business leaders, and be part of a vibrant neighborhood of innovators and changemakers.

Eligibility

• Open to contributors from Sub-Saharan African nations.
• Participants should be between 18-35 years previous.
• Both people and groups can apply. Teams are inspired however not required.
• Both technical and non-technical candidates are welcome, together with software program builders, designers, activists, neighborhood organizers, journalists, researchers, and extra.
• Teams should embody a minimum of one feminine participant.
• While English would be the primary language of communication in the course of the hackathon, they welcome participation from all Sub-Saharan nations. Key directions and assist could also be supplied in French, Portuguese, or Arabic the place vital to advertise inclusivity.
• All undertaking concepts should be conceived in the course of the hackathon interval.

Judging Criteria

Projects will probably be evaluated based mostly on:

• Impact: Potential to enhance citizen engagement and authorities accountability.
• Innovation: Originality and creativity of the answer.
• Technical Feasibility: Practicality and scalability of the answer.
• User Experience: Ease of use and accessibility for various customers.
• Countering Disinformation: Effectiveness of mechanisms to confirm info and fight disinformation.
• Relevance to African Context: Adaptability and cultural sensitivity of the answer.

Application

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Democracy Hackathon.