Have an idea on digital identification systems that can help users to better protect their personal data? The World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) will next week host two hackathons in Cape Town and Nairobi open to innovators.
The hackathons are being run as part of ID4D’s Mission Billion Challenge and are sponsored by the MIT Solve platform. Those with winning ideas stand the chance to get up to $50 000 in prize money (see below for more details).
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The aim of next week’s hackathons are to help identify digital identification systems in developing countries that can help protect citizens’ privacy and provide them with more control over their personal data.
Solveathons are highly interactive design workshops aimed at developing and improving great solutions to global challenges.
The Nairobi Solveathon is set to take place next Tuesday (29 January) at iHub Nairobi, while the Cape Town Solveathon will be held next Thursday (31 January) at WorkInProgress, an Absa innovation lab based at the Woodstock Exchange.
The Mission Billion Challenge aims to find innovative, practical, and cost-effective “privacy by design” solutions that can be embedded into digital identification systems.
The two events will be facilitated by MIT Solve staff and will focus on refining ideas from the Nairobi and Cape Town communities in response to the Mission Billion Challenge.
Top prize of $50 000
ID4D’s Mission Billion Challenge offers a total amount of cash prizes of up to $100 000, with a top prize of $50 000 awarded to the most promising solution that is practical and relevant for developing countries.
As at the time of publication, 24 solutions had been submitted for the challenge.
Judges will evaluate solutions based on alignment to the challenge, context appropriateness, scalability and ease of use, feasibility and how innovative the solutions are.
Applications will close on 24 February, with finalists set to be announced on 14 March. Thereafter, the challenge’s final pitch event will take place on 12 April in Washington D.C.
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