EU : Africa The Post Crisis Journey

We are inviting you to hop on board on a journey towards a true digital transformation of Africa and Europe – EU : Africa The Post Crisis Journey! #euafricathejourney

Why?

Today’s virus-driven world is unpredictable, uncertain, and dynamic. It is clear to everyone, that the life that we have lived until the outbreak of COVID-19 does not just bounce back to the way it was. It is important to start with new and creative approaches to deal with the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has given us insight on. Build new projects. Think bigger. It is in our hands to jumpstart the economy. Use the decades of innovation in a supportive and inclusive way. Being tough and smart, united, and disciplined – we will succeed in this mission.

What?

EU : Africa The Post Crisis Journey is an online hackathon program, that aims to find innovative solutions to socio-economic problems that have been further escalated by the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to engage 10,000 passionate tech-savvy and socially conscious problem solvers, 300 mentors, and 500 community organizations across Africa and Europe. Winning teams will get their hands on a 100 000€ prize fund (and growing!), develop their prototypes further in the follow-up program of the hackathon, and implement their world-changing ideas in real life.

Topics

Timeline

20 October – Registration opens
Sign up as an individual or with the team, with or without the idea.

28 November and 5 December – Idea selection and team formation
Only the best and most relevant ideas get accepted. Team formation will happen prior the hackathon, on a special, matchmaking platform on the 28th of November and 5th of December. TOP ideas and all the individuals without the team will be invited for a facilitated matchmaking session to pitch their ideas and meet their future team-mates.

During the matchmaking sessions two main things will happen:

1. as an individual participant, you will get to know the ideas that have been submitted so far and join with the team whose idea inspires you the most.
2. as an idea owner, you will get a chance to introduce your idea and interact with your possible future teammates and ask them to join your team.

7 December – Best teams that join the online hackathon announced!
Teams selected to enter the competition will be announced on December 7. Teams will receive an e-mail with a complete set of instructions to get ready for the craziest 72-hour online hacking marathon.

10-13 December – Online Hackathon
Fully online, an intensive 72-hour hackathon where ideas will be developed into a prototype through well-coordinated checkpoints, intensive work, and through the support of the top-notch mentors. It’s also worth a mention, that the prize pool for the winning ideas is 100 000 euros!

15 January – Post-hackathon matchmaking event
Post Hackathon Matchmaking event to put the teams together with all the help they need to move further and bring the solution developed during the hackathon into real life.

Post-Hackathon Online Pre Accelerator
January, February, March – Post-hackathon follow-up program to implement your idea in real life.

All the challenges tackled in this program are put together in collaboration with African Union and Smart Africa and are in line with the Africa-Europe Digital Economy Partnership Report and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program is put together in collaboration with Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation and African Union, Irish Aid, Luxembourg Aid and Development and Polish Aid and implemented by Garage48 and Smart Africa.