The Africa Engage 2024 Hackathon is a revolutionary initiative aimed at harnessing the creative talents of African developers, activists, and the public to build a digital solution that enhances access to and engagement with vital human rights tools across the continent.
Hosted by Magamba Network, RFLD, CIVICUS, and Defend Defenders, this two-day hybrid event in Banjul, Gambia, on October 18-19, 2024, invites a diverse range of participants to contribute their skills in technology and advocacy for the advancement of human rights in Africa.
CHARM AFRICA is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The Consortium for Human Rights and Media in Sub-Saharan Africa (CHARM AFRICA) aims to promote and protect human rights and media freedoms in sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a call to action for innovative minds to break barriers and create accessible solutions that empower individuals and communities to understand, utilize, and advocate for human rights protections available to them.
Objectives
Increase Accessibility
Develop a user-friendly solution that makes human rights instruments easily accessible to all Africans, regardless of their digital literacy or technology access.
Enhance Engagement
Encourage active participation among users in human rights discussions and advocacy, transforming them into informed advocates within their communities.
Facilitate Reporting
Create features that allow users to report human rights violations and seek assistance, cultivating an environment where grievances can be aired and addressed.
Foster Regional Connectivity
Link users with relevant regional organizations and available resources to ensure they have the support needed to navigate their human rights challenges effectively. Key Areas of Focus Participants are encouraged to craft solutions that engage with the following human rights instruments: African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Maputo Protocol African Youth Charter Kampala Convention Institutions of the African Union and other vital human rights mechanisms.
Hackathon Goals
Design a Digital Solution: Develop an application or platform that seamlessly integrates accessibility features to deliver crucial human rights content and tools.
Innovate User Experience: Build a creative and intuitive interface that appeals to users from various age groups and technological backgrounds.
Implement Offline Functionality: Ensure that the application is usable with limited or no internet connectivity, catering to a wide range of users in resource-limited environments.
Enable Human Rights Advocacy: Incorporate functionalities that promote awareness, education, and user engagement with human rights initiatives.
Key Solution Requirements For Participants’ submissions must meet the following criteria:
Online and Offline Functionality
Ensure that users can access the solution and its features regardless of their internet connectivity.
Have a user-friendly design that considers various devices, accessibility needs, and age demographics in the development process.
The solution should have seamless Interaction that facilitates straightforward navigation to key human rights materials and features within the application.
It should encourage users to participate in educational activities related to their rights and responsibilities.
Prizes and Benefits
A significant cash award to the winning team to support the execution and development of their solution.
Winning teams will receive mentorship and guidance from industry experts and human rights advocates to refine their ideas and implementation plans.
Who Should Apply?
This hackathon seeks participants from diverse backgrounds, including: Developers and Engineers Designers and Creatives Activists and Advocates Researchers and Academics Storytellers and Communicators Eligibility and Application Process Application Deadline: October 10, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be from an African country. Individual or team applications are welcome. Availability to participate in the entire hackathon remotely or in person, for Banjul based applicants.
Applications must be submitted in English. A brief proposal (5000 characters or less) outlining the solution idea must be submitted.
Teams that showcase diversity in gender and expertise are highly encouraged to apply. Application Submission Applicants can fill in the application form at https://forms.gle/ntoG2tLi8ZefK3K19 and submit their brief proposal to: magamba@magambanetwork.com
Further event details and accepted applicants’ instructions will be communicated prior to the event.
