From The World Bank
Kampala, Uganda— Cellphone usage is expanding in Sub-Saharan Africa, and paving the way for information and communication technologies (ICT) to modernize and boost productivity in the region’s agricultural sector. Apps like Kilimo Salama, which provides farmers with updated climate data, as well as Vet Africa, which helps diagnose livestock diseases, are already transforming farmers’ lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. Up to 90% of farmers polled by e-Learning Africa credit ICT with improving food security in their region.
And there’s potential for ICT to do even more, which is why farmers are clamoring for more innovations. “ICT is making big gains in Africa, and at the same time, there is great potential for innovation in the agriculture sector,” explains Juergen Voegele, Senior Director for the World Bank’s Agriculture Global Practice. “ICT can be a powerful tool for farmers by facilitating learning, connecting farmers to markets or providing crucial information.”
#Hack4Ag
The World Bank aims to help jumpstart agricultural innovation by hosting #Hack4Ag from February 23-27 in Kampala, Uganda. Supported by funding from South Korea, the hackathon brings together young people from Uganda and South Korea, as well as innovators, developers, farmers and other partners to dream up innovative ways of using mobile technology to help farmers. “The vast majority of Ugandans are farmers,” says Christina Malmberg Calvo, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda. “ICT holds great promise to engage youth in the much needed transformation of the country’s agriculture sector.”
The hackathon will comprise 9 teams with 4 members per team–3 Ugandans and 1 South Korean. 36 shortlisted finalists will develop mobile app prototypes to address agricultural challenges that will be identified during farmer field visits. The prototypes will then be judged by an expert panel of judges during a pitch session. “We are happy to be a part of this World Bank led initiative aimed at using technology to improve farming experiences through generating practical solutions for the farming community,” emphasizes H.E. Park Jong-Dae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uganda.
The winning team will have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to Uganda’s agriculture sector—their app will be developed further, and implemented as one component of an ongoing World Bank-financed project of Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries. The winning team will receive continuous mentorship during the implementation process, even long after the hackathon has been completed. They will also be trained on entrepreneurship and product marketing—skills that can grow their careers as ICT professionals. Working with a team from South Korea, Ugandan developers have the chance to build synergies and find areas of potential collaboration, including training and exchange opportunities.
Christina Malmberg Calvo
Why the Hackathon?
The hackathon is part of the Bank’s commitment to engage and empower young people to be pivotal agents for agricultural modernization through ICT.
Using methods drawn from design thinking and creative problem solving, the hackathon will encourage participants to think outside-the-box and design unconventional mobile Agriculture (mAgriculture) solutions. The hackathon will follow principles of “user-centered design,” actively engaging farmers and young people in developing solutions that are based on their needs, experiences and expectations.
QUICK FACTS:
Where and when
The five day long hackathon, which is happening in February 2016 in Uganda, will be comprised of two days of socialization and field visits, two days of hacking and a final day of pitching and presentation. Interested applicants should apply now:
Who
Young people from Uganda and South Korea will be participating in the hackathon, alongside mentors and partners in the Academia. We are looking for participants with the following profile:
- A multi-disciplinary team beyond just programmers
- Members of the team must be exposed to rural settings
- Demonstrate a desire and or understanding of farming /Agriculture
- Demonstrate technical skill sets
- Must be a fully Ugandan team currently living in Uganda (For Ugandan Applicants)
- A gender balanced team is preferred
How
Teams will spend 48 hours building a new mobile app. In teams of approximately 6, they will develop a mobile solution designed to increase the visibility of the need and demonstrate the potential value to small farmers and the app development community. On completion, they will demo the project to other hackers taking part in the hackathon and to an audience of over 100 local supporters in the Kampala community gathered to learn about the app prototypes, select the best apps, and celebrate the launch of the top apps selected.
Will there be mentors?
Yes! We will have plenty of support, including mentors from Makerere University and experts from the private sector and Korea to support the teams in testing their prototypes. Throughout the Hackathon, there will be regular “Mentor check-ins” for teams to ask the experts any queries and receive guidance as they design their solutions.
Who can attend
Youth participants selected from the two participating countries of Uganda and South Korea.
Announcing the winner
The winning project(s) will be announced on day five of the #Hack4Ag, and the Wolrd Bank will support efforts to further refine the winning app(s) after the hackathon by working with the winning team during the Bank-financed Agriculture Cluster Development project pilot implementation.
Join the Conversation
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/worldbank
https://www.facebook.com/WorldBankAfrica
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/WBG_Agriculture
https://twitter.com/WorldBankAfrica
Hashtag #Hack4Ag
For more information contact
Jeehye Kim — Agriculture Specialist jkim15@worldbank.org or
David Neilson — dnielson@worldbank.org in Washington D.C.
Maureen Agena — magena@worldbank.org in Kampala, Uganda
Source: http://goo.gl/62vdQO