1. Home
  2. Special Tracks
  3. #HackAgainstHunger

#HackAgainstHunger

Develop your ideas into tech solutions to ensure food security and end hunger!

Do you have an idea to ensure food security, decrease malnutrition or prevent famine? Join the #HackAgainstHunger!

75% of the world's poor live in rural areas and 2.5 billion people derive their livelihoods from agriculture. However, low agricultural productivity, poor transportation systems and limited policies affect their production and agriculture trade. Today, more than 800 million people worldwide are undernourished, while more than a billion tons of food never make it to the table.

This is exactly where solutions are crucially needed to develop new sustainable agricultural practices, support small-scale and family farmers and allow them equal access to land, technology and markets.

WSIS Forum 2018 #HackAgainstHunger Outcomes

From 18-19 March, 73 participants, 14 teams across 4 continents came together in Geneva, Switzerland, at the #HackAgainstHunger to “hack” for a Future of Sustainable Agriculture and Food.

Hackathon Outcomes

Learn more »

WSIS Forum 2018
International Telecommunication Union - ITU
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO
Impact Hub Geneva

Presented by WSIS Forum, organized in association with ITU, FAO and Impact Hub Geneva.

What is #HackAgainstHunger?

#HackAgainstHunger is a general effort by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to identify and support innovative solutions to address challenges around food and agriculture, including:

Regional hackathons:

  • #HackAgainstHunger/Kigali will be happening on February 16–17 in Kigali, Rwanda.
    Find more information and details under the agenda.

  • #HackAgainstHunger/Caribbean includes two events that take place simultaneously in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago on February 17–18.
    Find more information and details under the agenda.

NOTE that the Winners of the regional hackathons will be selected to participate at the #HackAgainstHunger at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva.

WSIS Forum 2018—Special Track Hackathon:

  • #HackAgainstHunger/Geneva takes place on March 18–19 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva during the WSIS Forum 2018.
    Find more information and details under the agenda.

NOTE that all participants to #HackAgainstHunger/Geneva are invited to stay on Tuesday, March 20 to attend the High Level Segment of the WSIS Forum at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva.

AGENDA
#HackAgainstHunger/
Geneva

AGENDA
#HackAgainstHunger/
Kigali

AGENDA
#HackAgainstHunger/
Caribbean

Why should you participate?

The support we provide you

Because YOUR idea can make a difference in building a sustainable agriculture and ensuring Food for All!

#HackAgainstHunger will take care of you (including meals, snacks and drinks) and will boost your idea by giving you access to a variety of crucial resources.

  • Connection to the UN ecosystem.
  • Participants from all around the world.

  • Inspiring workspace to focus 100% on ideating and prototyping your solution!
  • Process facilitators.

  • Tools & operational support* from innovation experts and entrepreneurs.
  • Access to International Organisations datasets.

  • Feedback from topical experts from FAO and ITU.
  • Technical and IT Support.

*Operational support on exploring and crystallizing your project's

  • Value Proposition & Business Model
  • Legal structure
  • Fundraising strategy
  • Impact measurement
  • Replicability in other places to grow your impact exponentially

Who can apply & how?

Apply if you…
  • …are passionate about technology and innovation for positive social/environmental impact.
  • …have an idea or an existing project related to ensuring food security and ending hunger.
  • …are in a team of motivated people and you would like to further develop and your idea or an existing project.
How to apply:
  • As team (ideally between 3 to 8 participants; gender balance would be ideal)

NOTE that you can also apply individually (to get matched with an existing team that wishes your support over the course of the Hackathon).

APPLY to
#HackAgainstHunger/
Geneva

APPLY to
#HackAgainstHunger/
Kigali

APPLY to
#HackAgainstHunger/
Caribbean

Participation to #HackAgainstHunger is free of charge.

Please note that participants will cover their own expenses for travel, accommodations and insurance. However, a limited number of fellowships (stipends that partially cover travel and accommodation in Geneva) are available for selected teams from developing countries.

Timeline & selection process

The information below applies to each of the three #HackAgainstHunger.

Find more specific details under each #HackAgainstHunger agenda.

Application Phase

We strongly encourage you to have a look at the application deadline for the #HackAgainstHunger of your interest. Find more specific details under each #HackAgainstHunger agenda.

Selection Phase

All applications will be screened by the #HackAgainstHunger committee, composed of the organising team, as well as topical and innovation experts, to choose the best hack teams and hackers to join each event.

Participants Notification

Selected hackers will be informed in the coming week after the application deadline. People who need a visa to join the event will receive a notification at least 4 weeks prior to the event.

Hack Team Formation and Briefing

When all hackers have confirmed their presence, final Hack teams will be formed. Each team will benefit from a Team Briefing with the organising team on additional logistical information before the event.

A Hacka… what?

A Hackathon is a powerful tool to innovate by bringing together diverse actors who do not usually work together. The format embraces the complexity of challenges, as well as enables the participants to identify practical interventions and approaches to address urgent issues. Moreover, the hackers will be benefiting from the specific know-how and skill sets of experts on the topic.