The world is grappling with increasingly complex crises from climate extremes and disasters to food insecurity, health emergencies, and humanitarian shocks. As risks grow more interconnected, the ability to anticipate, prepare, and respond effectively has never been more critical.
Against this backdrop, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched the Hackathon 2026, an initiative designed to harness innovation for smarter early warning and stronger community resilience. The event brings together developers, technologists, and innovators to reimagine how information is generated, communicated, and transformed into timely action.
Participants are invited to submit solutions ranging from mobile applications and geospatial tools to artificial intelligence, data analytics, and community engagement platforms. The emphasis is on bold ideas with real‑world impact tools that can strengthen preparedness, support decision‑making, and improve outcomes for vulnerable communities across the region.
Submission requirements include a concise project overview, detailed solution description, prototype demonstration, and technical documentation. The top 10 entries will advance to a physical evaluation workshop.
Prizes worth over $10,000 will be awarded, with the first‑place winner receiving $4,000 in cash and fully sponsored participation in the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF74). Runners‑up will also secure cash awards and opportunities to showcase their work at GHACOF74.
Judging will be based on technical depth, innovation, problem impact, and clarity of presentation. The panel includes experts from IGAD, ICPAC, and industry partners such as Bunifu Technologies.
ICPACs say the hackathon is more than a competition it is a chance to contribute ideas that can help communities withstand shocks, strengthen resilience, and ensure early warnings translate into early actio
