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Africa Development Forum Series: 20 in 5
#ZIMWATERHACK: Addressing Water and Sanitation Challenges in Zimbabwe
February 26-27, 2016Harare Institute of Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe
#ZIMWATERHACK aims to raise awareness and showcase the potential of local developers to craft innovative technical solutions and applications to address the challenges of water and sanitation delivery in Zimbabwe.

The World Bank Zimbabwe office is hosting its first hackathon to address challenges in water and sanitation services (WSS) delivery in the country. The hackathon will bring together practitioners, community members, and programmers in a 48-hour marathon to develop technical solutions that could improve water and sanitation services for Zimbabwe’s consumers. 

The objective of this event is to raise awareness and showcase the potential of local developers to craft innovative technical solutions and applications for addressing the challenges of water and sanitation service delivery in Zimbabwe. The event is expected to link various stakeholders, including the government, academia and software developers, private sector and financiers, citizens associations and civil society who normally may not have a close interaction on these issues. The hackathon will showcase the potential of the knowledge economy as a driver of growth and jobs in Zimbabwe.

The event will also include the first-of-its kind Dragon’s Den format, where all finalists will present their product or prototype to a group of judges who are experienced venture capitalists. Each finalist will have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their product/prototype, followed by five minutes of questions from the Dragons. It will take place at the Harare Institute of Technology over two days, 26-27 February 2016.  The public are invited to attend and observe innovation at work, and to follow online using #ZIMWATERHACK

Top five benefits of the Water and Sanitation Hackathon:

  • Bridge various sectors and connect the government and technology communities around a shared challenge
  • Encourages a distinct culture of open collaboration and bringing together stakeholders who typically would not have an opportunity to engage within their respective professions
  • Create a platform for the public and citizen engagement that allows people to share feedback and ideas on issues that affect their communities
  • Assists in removing subjectivity from solutions that are ultimately designed by demonstrating what the community really wants and needs.
  • This hackathon is not all work no play; contrary to the culture of all work, this is one of the few events that strongly couple and encourage both work and play

The Water and Sanitation Hackathon will have five objectives:

  1. Raising the visibility of technology as an enabler and catalyst in solving some of Zimbabwe’s water and sanitation challenges
  2. Promoting collaboration between innovators and actors in the water and sanitation sector
  3. Development of new applications to help improve service delivery in the water and sanitation sector
  4. Creating links between innovators, end-users of the applications and investors and/or donors
  5. Showcasing the potential of the knowledge economy in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Water and Sanitation Hackathon is open to all software developers, hackers, designers, entrepreneurs, marketing gurus, students, product ninjas and business people between the ages of 18 – 35. Register

Innovativeness/ Creativeness

  • Thinking out of the box
  • New idea which is challenging and thought provoking
  • Originality and versatility
  • Advanced approach to solving problems
  • Socially, environmental sound and sustainable
  • Development of value through solutions which meet new needs, unarticulated needs or existing needs in an unique way

Innovation is the combination of creative ideas with sustainable business models making sure they solve real needs. Solutions may include new or more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are more readily available to markets, governments, and society.  Emerging technologies are accelerating the pace of change, having a profound impact on how societies, businesses and individuals interact. The emergence of new identities, facilitated by new technologies and enabled by new values is the new revolution pioneering developmental initiatives, which should be embraced.

Practicality/Readiness

  • Realistic and doable
  • Designed to be usable
  • Available and sound approach as it is concerned with the actual use ( a hands on approach) rather than the theoretical possibility
  • Implementation of the proposed idea/method must be user friendly (easy to use), accessible, adaptable to various environments
  • Well-coordinated and logical

Impact on the Community

  • Positive influence on the community at grassroots level and compatible to the ever-changing environment
  • How it improves the performance and sustenance of a community or society (degree of influence)

Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK)

  • The willingness of developers and designers to dedicate time to coding, mapping and web design in response to local humanitarian crises
  • The freedom of others (i.e. customers) to use and adapt developed technologies according to their needs.

JUDGES

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Medicine T Mavhondo - Managing Director – Advisory Brainworks Capital

A banker with 8+ years’ global experience having worked for Citigroup in New York and London as an Analyst for its Collateralised Debt Obligations Syndications division and Commodities Trading platform (Gas & Power Trading).
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Margret Chipunza - Chief Financial Officer African Century Limited

Margret is a Chartered Accountant having trained with Deloitte. She has over 17 years of experience in the financial services sector which include accounting, financial management, financial reporting, auditing, company secretarial, administration, risk management, microfinance and agricultural finance.
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Geoff Goss Founder & CEO – Matamba Anonaka

Geoff is an experienced and skilled business manager, entrepreneur and corporate Director having held senior positions in large and small, local and international, private and public companies
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Nyaradzo T Nyimo (Mudzamiri) - CFA Consultant

An investment professional with over 10 years of experience primarily in strategy, corporate development and advisory services, assisting with developing strategy (business expansion, greenfield opportunities growth), undertaking capital market transactions (debt and equity) and assessing market opportunities (due diligence, valuations and financial modelling). She has experience across multiple industries in the Southern Africa region and served both private and public sector clients. 

 

MENTORS

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Constantine Nyanzero

Constantine is an enterprise development specialist working at Udugu Institute. He is heading the deployment of Facebook’s Free Basics in Zimbabwe and a passionate nerd. He is the Head Africa.co Fellow in Zimbabwe and does freelance research work for Global Entrepreneurship Week.
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Bernard Juru

Bernard is an avid promoter of Technology to combat societal issues and challenges. He is the Head coordinator at Muzinda Hub where he is championing training of the next generation of digital stars on the African Continent and beyond.
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Takunda (Tkay) Chingonzo Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Takunda Chingonzo is the co-founder of Neolab Technology, an innovative company more commonly referred as the “Start-up factory” that recruits and trains university students and helps them work in teams to turn disruptive ideas into sustainable start-ups.
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Brian Chatterton

Brian Chatterton is a founder and CEO of Quick Online Reference (Pvt) Ltd, a Zimbabwean startup with a passion to develop the local market for other entrepreneurs. He was born in the City of Kings (Bulawayo) but spent a number of years in London, working at Imperial College, London Business School and Deutsche Post DHL. Homesickness and an exciting partnership proposal with DHL, Delivery Solutions (South Africa) and NamPost lead to a return to Africa and an addiction to entrepreneurship. Brian is a software developer, currently focused on Full Stack Javascript  and teaches Computer Science at St. John’s College.
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Tawanda Kembo

Tawanda Kembo is a fourth generation entrepreneur who is currently running a Venture Capital funded startup called BitFinance. He is also a geek at heart and has been writing code for over 14 years.
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McCloud Mungofa

McCloud Mungofa Is a project management practitioner with experience in managing multi-stakeholder ICT for development projects. He is also co-founder of Stimulus Hub, a social enterprise business hub in Harare capacitating entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and networking. He heads the Stimulus Project Management Network that focuses on enterprise innovation.
  • The World Bank
  • Harare Institute of Technology
  • Neolab
  • Schweppes Zimbabwe
  • Solution Centre

FAQ What is a Hackathon?
A hackathon, (also known as an apps challenge, hack day, hackfest or codefest) is an intensive marathon competition of brainstorming and computer programming that draws together the talent and creativity of software developers and designers.

What is a Water and Sanitation Hackathon?
It is an event where IT experts and water sector experts come together to  develop technical solutions to address certain water and sanitation challenges.

OMG hacking?!
Please note that this hackathon is aimed at getting the input of hackers as a positive force, not in the sense of a security threat.

What is the cost of attending this hackathon?
Nothing! As long as you register as either a developer, designer or non-technical/business it is free. The event is also open to anyone who is interested in seeing what is going on, however without food and the like.

How can I join?
You should register for the event on Eventbrite.com. Then be sure to keep an eye out for updates from now until the event.

What qualifications do I need?
No qualifications are necessary. As long as you have the ability to produce a software or prototype to help the cause, you are welcome.

I’m not a student anymore, can I still participate?
Definitely! This Water and Sanitation Hackathon is calling on all youths from the ages of 18-35 years old.

When and where is the hackathon being held?
25 February 2016  – Hackers Meeting from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Harare Institute Of Technology – Lawley Ave Harare ZW. 
26 -27 February 2016 Water and Sanitation Hackathon Marathon at Harare Institute Of Technology – Lawley Ave Harare ZW.

What do I get out of it?
You get the chance to network with large stakeholders and developing partners as well as work in a fun environment producing a product that may be the solution to some of the pressing issue in the water and sanitation sector in Zimbabwe. There are also prizes to be won for the winning team and potentially working with the developing partner thereafter.

Do I have to develop something all by myself or can I be part of a team?
All participants will be placed into groups of 8 people before the hackathon takes place.

Do I have to bring my own laptop?
Yes, unfortunately, we can’t provide computers. Please don’t forget to bring your laptop chargers and your own USB drives if possible.

What should I bring?
We will provide you with WiFi. You should be prepared to bring items like laptops, software, external storage, thumb drives, tablets, chargers, headphones, pillows, maybe even your eye mask. Please bring them in case we have to connect your device to our projector. Feel free to bring: phones, chargers, surge protectors, extension cords, sleeping bag, mouse pads, pens, paper, and business cards.

Who’s organizing this hackathon?
This hackathon is organized by the World Bank.

What about my travel and accommodation costs?
Registered hackers travelling to HIT from outside Harare will be catered for in terms of accommodation and food.

Will there be food?
Yes! Only for those who have registered however, on our Eventbrite website. Register Here

Do I have to work non-stop?
No. The work space will be available 24 hours. Don’t over exhaust yourself or your team. Know when to take breaks and when to get some rest.

What if I create something that rocks? Who owns it?
You and your team will own the software.

What is the hashtag?
Follow the hackathon using #ZIMWATERHACK, @WorldBankWater

DETAILS
  • DATE: February 26 – 27, 2016
  • PLACE: Harare Institute of Technology
  • CITY: Harare
  • COUNTRY: Zimbabwe
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