List of hackathons in Sierra Leone in 2018

IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE REGISTER AT THE FOLLLOWING LINK INSTEAD: https://goo.gl/forms/uJ8xaYhhAakhwBB43 PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR REGISTRATION IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOU ARE CONTACTED BY US BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FRIDAY, 25 MAY! Health Hackathon on Risk Communication for West AfricaKicks Off in Sierra Leone on 28th–31st May!HIGHLIGHTS– This is the first Health Hackathon on Risk Communication in Sierra Leone– Award for the top 3 winning teams– An opportunity for the top winning team to receive mentorship from experts in an aftercare programme designed to help develop their prototype– Represents a chance to be part of a GIZ hackathon event in Sierra Leone DESCRIPTIONThis event is organized by Sensi Tech Hub on behalf of GIZ and GFA Consulting Group, as part of the Regional Programme Support to Pandemic Prevention in the ECOWAS Region (RPPP). Sensi Tech Hub is facilitating the event in partnership with GIZ, GFA, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Sierra Leone and the Public Health National Emergency Operation Centre (PHNEOC). Sensi will be organizing a four-day hackathon that is focused on developing ICT solutions on challenges regarding risk communication during health emergencies and outbreaks in Sierra Leone. The hackathon aims to bring together tech developers, risk communication experts, health professionals, entrepreneurs, designers and media professionals to work together over four days and start developing ICT solutions and ideas that can help enhance efforts of the government, stakeholders and organizations working on strengthening preparedness systems for health emergencies and outbreaks.The hackathon will focus on the following challenges:– COORDINATION – Managing changing communication problems – SOCIAL MOBILISATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – Communication with communities at risk to understand their perceptions and needs – MEDIA – Media outreach, social media and new media  The event is open but not limited to tech developers, risk communication and health professionals, media professionals, entrepreneurs and local university students across Sierra Leone.WHAT IS A HACKATHON? A hackathon is a social event that brings entrepreneurs, health professionals, ICT and software developers and risk communication experts to collaborate intensely building new solutions – or improving existing ones – based on technology. There is usually a specific focus, such as a particular application framework, stated business or social challenge. At the end of the event, each group presents their results. This could include a product roadmap, marketing strategy, revenue model, and/or a live demonstration. A panel of judges selects the winning teams, and prizes are given for originality and potential. DATE & TIMEThe event will be held on 28th–31st May from 8:30am to 6:00pm at Sensi Tech Hub – 67 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone.AWARDSThere will be three prizes for the top three teams. The winning team will be placed in an aftercare mentoring program that will be facilitated by Sensi Tech Hub in collaboration with GIZ, GFA and expert mentors to help them develop their idea or prototype.The awards will in the form of a startup toolkit, which could include services, infrastructure, equipment and other support materials, valued at:1st prize: $2,500 — 2nd prize: $1,500 — 3rd prize: $1,000SPONSORS & ORGANISERSGIZ – As a federally owned enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ is implementing the RPPP programme, on behalf of the German Government. (https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/62702.html)GFA Consulting Group GmbH - has a sound track record of providing effective solutions to the challenges in the global consulting market. Based in Hamburg, the company relies on an international network of experts, partners and subsidiaries that helped implementing complex studies and projects in over 130 countries since 1982. (http://www.gfa-group.de/)Sensi Tech Innovation Hub is the first Hub of its kind to be established in Sierra Leone since the country gained its independence in 1961. Its main objective is to build a technology innovation community in Sierra Leone that drives economic and social development through providing an open and stimulating community hub for technologists, entrepreneurs and creatives to come together, develop their ideas, and access cutting-edge tech, grants funding, events, incubation and acceleration programmes, networking, training and jobs opportunities. (http://sensi-sl.org/)