World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge 2026 – YOA

Deadline: September 26, 2026

Applications are open for the World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge 2026. As of 2025, greater than 2 billion folks remained offline. Over the subsequent decade, 1.2 billion younger folks within the Global South will attain working age but present traits level to solely 420 million new jobs being created to fulfill them.

Artificial intelligence is altering what is feasible in growth. But most AI instruments have been constructed for a world with dependable connectivity, a smartphone in hand, and a consumer already fluent in learn how to work together with AI. The Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge is an open name to younger innovators worldwide to construct AI options that work in the actual circumstances going through growing economies, the place the folks with essentially the most to achieve are the furthest from the instruments being constructed.

Benefits

• Three winners will likely be chosen from the entries generated on the hack-a-thon, one from every of the classes – Agriculture, Health, and Tourism. The winners will likely be invited to Seoul, South Korea to current on the Global AI and Digital Summit 2026, co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the Government of Korea from 19 to 22 October 2026.
• Travel bills will likely be coated in full topic to affordable journey prices, lodging, and designated occasion-associated bills, as decided by the Organizers in accordance with inside logistics pointers.

Eligibility

• Open to candidates aged 18 to 35, according to the UN definition of youth, throughout the World Bank member nations.
• Applicants from rising economies are strongly inspired to apply.
• Applications could also be submitted both by a person or by a group of as much as 4 members.
• Applications to take part and hack-a-thon submissions should be all submitted in English.
• Each group member should register individually, fulfill all eligibility necessities, and be recognized as part of the identical group earlier than the registration deadline. An particular person could take part in just one competitors entry.
• Team membership will not be modified after the Hackathon begins. Entries submitted by groups will likely be judged as a single entry. If a group entry is chosen as a winner, the award will likely be made to the group collectively and can rely as one of many three profitable entries. Winning Teams will nominate their consultant who will likely be finest suited to symbolize them on the Summit in particular person, and the World Bank Group judging panel will make the ultimate dedication.

Application

Register now by way of the Application form and click on “Request to Join” and use WBGSmallAIGADS for your referral code.

For extra info, go to Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge.