The Upanzi Network and MicroSave Consulting (MSC) have launched a series of regional hackathon events for African university students to develop use cases of digital ID across the continent. The hackathons invite students to develop high-impact use cases for digital ID in various sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, access to public services, and others. The hackathons will conclude at the ID4Africa 2025 General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
For each regional competition, teams of 2-5 students will:
- Participate in a digital ID course: Students will participate in a virtual course to give them an understanding and appreciation of digital ID, its key features, and technical knowledge of various digital ID platforms. The course will be offered in a series of webinars in a self-paced format.
- Submit ideas: Students will submit high-potential use cases for digital ID in Africa. The top 5-10 teams will be selected and invited to develop and refine their ideas.
- Develop and refine use cases: Finalists will use a digital ID platform sandbox to develop their ideas for potential real-world applications. In this stage, students will work with mentors for guidance and support.
- Present use cases: Finalists will present their digital ID use cases at the ID4Africa 2025 General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Regional prizes
Participants from each region will have access to a total regional prize pool valued at $10,000 USD.
Grand prize
- A laptop for each member of the team
- Business pre-incubation program with CMU-Africa's Industry Innovation Lab
- Fully sponsored chance to attend the ID4Africa 2025 conference in Addis Ababa*
- A chance to engage in a paid internship with the Upanzi Network at CMU-Africa*
Runners-up
- Fully sponsored chance to attend the ID4Africa 2025 conference in Addis Ababa*
- Business pre-incubation program with CMU-Africa's Industry Innovation Lab
- Sponsor swag and goodies
*Please note that some prizes require additional eligibility beyond the control of the organizers and shall be handled at the discretion of the organizers.
Northern Africa Digital ID Hackathon
The hackathon is in progress and registration is closed.
Eligibility rules
University students from seven Northern Africa countries, (Morocco, Egypt, Mauritania, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya) can participate in the Northern Africa Digital ID Hackathon by forming a team of 2-5 members. To foster inclusivity, teams must have at least one active female participant. Refugees and asylum-seekers enrolled in a university in these countries are also eligible to participate. View detailed eligibility criteria.
Digital ID course
To teach participants about digital ID, share case studies, and explore how to develop use cases for digital ID, a multipart webinar-style course will be held between December 12 and January 17.
Follow the Upanzi Network on X, LinkedIn, and Discord to receive updates on the schedule.
The webinars will be archived and available after each session.
Southern Africa Digital ID Hackathon
The hackathon is in progress and registration is closed.
Eligibility rules
University students from ten Southern Africa countries, (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia) can participate in the Southern Africa Digital ID Hackathon by forming a team of 2-5 members. To foster inclusivity, teams must have at least one active female participant. Refugees and asylum-seekers enrolled in a university in these countries are also eligible to participate. View detailed eligibility criteria.
Digital ID course
To teach participants about digital ID, share case studies, and explore how to develop use cases for digital ID, a multipart webinar-style course will be held between December 12 and January 17.
Follow the Upanzi Network on X, LinkedIn, and Discord to receive updates on the schedule.
The webinars will be archived and available after each session.
Western Africa Digital ID Hackathon
The hackathon is in progress and registration is closed.Eligibility rules
University students from 22 Western Africa countries, (Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome & Principe, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Chad) can participate in the Western Africa Digital ID Hackathon by forming a team of 2-5 members. To foster inclusivity, teams must have at least one active female participant. Refugees and asylum-seekers enrolled in a university in these countries are also eligible to participate. View detailed eligibility criteria.
Digital ID course
To teach participants about digital ID, share case studies, and explore how to develop use cases for digital ID, a multi-part webinar-style course will be held between 12th December and January 17th.
Follow the Upanzi Network on X, LinkedIn, and Discord to receive updates on the schedule.
The webinars will be archived and available after each session.
Eastern Africa Digital ID Hackathon
Registration is now closed for the Eastern Africa Digital ID Hackathon, and finalists have been announced. View photos from the awards ceremony.
Eligibility rules
University students from 11 East African countries, (Burundi, Djibouti, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) can participate in the Eastern Africa Digital ID Hackathon by forming a team of 2-5 members. To foster inclusivity, teams must have at least one active female participant. Refugees and asylum-seekers enrolled in a university in these countries are also eligible to participate.
Digital ID course
To teach participants about digital ID, share case studies, and explore how to develop use cases for digital ID, a webinar-style course will be held in four parts:
- July 25, 2024: Introduction to digital ID and case studies - 1
- July 26, 2024: Introduction to MOSIP and building on its API - 1
- August 1, 2024: Introduction to digital ID and case studies - 1
- August 2, 2024: Introduction to MOSIP and building on its API - 2
The webinars will be archived and available after each session.
Partners
