The Africa Digital ID Hackathon returns in 2026! We are back after our successful first edition, which was concluded at the ID4Africa annual general meeting in Addis Ababa in May 2025.
This second chapter of Africa Digital ID Hackathon is the result of a collaboration between
Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s Upanzi DPI Network and MSC (MicroSave Consulting).
The pan-African Digital ID hackathon 2026 has a dual focus. It will build local capacity as well as identify and develop locally contextualized digital ID use cases across sectors, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and public service delivery.
The Africa Digital ID Hackathon 2026 follows a comprehensive, four-phase approach designed to maximize learning, innovation, and real-world impact.
Team size: 2–5 members
Academic level: Undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students
Gender inclusion requirement: At least one female participant per team
Refugee inclusion: Open to refugees and asylum-seekers enrolled at any accredited university in Africa
MSC (MicroSave Consulting) and CMU Africa’s Upanzi DPI Network, are organizing the 2nd Africa Digital ID Hackathon
Phase 1: Upskilling and ideation
December 2025–February 2026
- Bi-weekly expert webinars that span technology, policy, and use-case design (in English/French)
- Rolling idea submissions through the Devpost platform
- Virtual office hours on Discord for guided support and mentorship
- Country outreach held both virtually and on-site
Phase 2: Prototyping and development
February 2026 – March 2026
- 24 shortlisted teams will receive dedicated use-case mentors (non-technical) and technical mentors (from MOSIP and technology partners).
- Weekly mentor-led prototyping sessions with regular check-ins (access to the MOSIP Innovation Sandbox will be provided).
- Mid-cycle presentations and pre-judging reviews will ensure teams are on track and their ideas are technically feasible.
- Regional semi-finals will be hosted at partner institutions across Africa.
- Community support will be available through Discord and WhatsApp platforms.
Phase 3: Regional semi-finals
April 2026
- The semi-finals will be conducted at four different locations. Details of this will be announced soon.
- The semi-finals will include live demonstrations of prototypes and presentations.
- The top two teams per region will advance to the continental finals at ID4Africa 2026.
Phase 4: Continental finals at ID4Africa 2026 Annual General Meeting at Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Day 1: Panel discussions and short presentations by finalist students
- Day 2: Finals competition and judging
- Day 3: Open house and networking—meet the innovators
Discover the benefits of this Hackathon
Contribution to Africa’s digital transformation will help you gain
Develop skills in digital ID technology and application development
Receive guidance from use-case mentors (non-technical) and technical mentors (from MOSIP and technology partners)
Connect with Africa’s digital ecosystem and potential future employers or partners
Certificate of achievement, Internship opportunities with Upanzi Network
Technical training in digital identity systems and public service innovation
All-expenses-paid trip to ID4Africa 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Support from CMU Africa Innovation Lab business incubation program
We welcome partnerships with government agencies, technology companies, universities and research institutions, and innovators and accelerators
Provide mentorship and technical expertise
Deliver expert sessions to the participants
Host regional semi-finals at your institution
February 22, 2026, 11:59 PM (UTC+1)
Application is open at: link
Webinars: December 2025–February 2026
Please follow us on social media and join us on Discord to get timely updates on webinar schedules) Discord
Your idea deserves Africa's biggest digital ID stage
