UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking is inviting applications for its 4th Annual Women’s Hackathon, seeking 45 young women developers organized in teams of three from Eastern and Southern Africa. The program is designed to address the gender gap in software development and foster innovations that support climate change adaptation and mitigation. The hackathon provides a platform for participants to develop and showcase solutions to pressing climate challenges.
Program Details and Structure
• Theme: Innovate for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Key Focus Area: The program centers on innovations for climate change adaptation and mitigation, addressing one of the most significant global challenges. Participants are expected to develop solutions that tackle various climate issues, contributing to sustainable development.
• Program Approach: The hackathon is structured in two parts. The first is a virtual program where 15 selected teams will develop digital proof-of-concept solutions under the guidance of academic and industrial experts. This phase includes webinars to build skills and confidence. At the end of the virtual program, teams will pitch their solutions. The top three teams will then advance to the second part, an in-person 3-day hackathon in Lilongwe, Malawi, held as a pre-event to the UbuntuNet Connect Conference 2026. These teams will present their refined concepts during the conference, where winners will be announced.
Key Dates and Timeline
• Call for Proposals: April 27 – May 29, 2026
• Deadline for Submission: Friday, May 29, 2026
• Notification of Successful Applicants: By June 15, 2026
• Phase 1 (Online Hackathon): July 6, 2026 – July 24, 2026
• Notification for Phase 2 Teams: By August 7, 2026
• Phase 2 (In-person Hackathon): October 26-28, 2026
• UbuntuNet-Connect Conference Attendance: October 29-30, 2026
Participant Benefits
• Certificates of participation for all participants.
• Travel and accommodation costs are fully covered for the in-person event.
• An opportunity to attend the UbuntuNet-Connect 2026 Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi.
• The possibility of internship opportunities with UbuntuNet Alliance member NRENs.
• Linkages to industry professionals and networks.
• Opportunities for mentorship.
Eligibility Criteria
• Participants must be female.
• Applicants must be pursuing or in possession of a university degree in Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Participants should be current students or recent graduates of not more than 5 years.
• Applicants must be from and residing in one of the following countries in the UbuntuNet Alliance Region: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
• Applicants must not have participated in a previous UbuntuNet Alliance women's hackathon.
Application and Selection Process
• How to Apply: Concept proposals must be submitted by teams through the online link: https://events.ubuntunet.net/event/153/.
• Concept Note Guidelines: The proposal should be 3-5 pages (font Times New Roman, size 12, single spacing), excluding a cover page. It should contain an introduction, background/relevance, proposed objectives for an ICT solution, methodology based on the software development lifecycle with necessary technologies, programming skills of team members, previous experience, links to developed work, education level, and year of graduation. The cover page must include the topic and team member details (names, email address, phone number).
• Selection Criteria: Concepts will be assessed based on whether the proposed idea solves a problem within the theme, the innovativeness of the idea, the team's programming skills to implement it, and the overall feasibility of the proposal.
This initiative is facilitated by the UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking, which aims to strengthen collaboration and innovation among research and education communities in Eastern and Southern Africa. For further details on the Alliance, please visit their website at https://ubuntunet.net. Any inquiries regarding the hackathon can be directed to info@ubuntunet.net.