Eight youth and women innovators from across the East African Community (EAC) have emerged as winners of the regional hackathon, receiving a total of €120,000 to scale their innovative solutions aimed at addressing economic challenges in the region.
The hackathon, which was part of the 7th Annual Secretary General’s Forum held in Nairobi, Kenya, gathered more than 1,000 innovative solutions from across the region in sectors such as tourism, agribusiness, environmental protection, trade, digitalization, and financial services.
The forum, held under the theme, "Towards a Resilient and Fully Integrated East Africa: Harnessing Opportunities in the Borderless Community," brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, and civil society members, to discuss the region’s challenges and explore collective opportunities for growth and integration.
The highlight of the event was the pitching session, where youth and women-led projects had the opportunity to present their solutions before a distinguished jury, which included the EAC Secretary General, ministers, permanent secretaries, and other regional leaders.
After the presentations, the session included a dynamic Q&A segment that encouraged discussions and offered valuable feedback to the participants.
The winners, each receiving €15,000, were selected based on the potential impact of their initiatives on regional economic integration.
The eight winning projects, four led by women and four by youth, were awarded financial and technical support by the EAC GIZ LIFTED project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with the EAC Secretariat.
The winning projects include:
- Niyonkuru Kevin - SPOTA Company, Burundi
- Cirhuza Birhaheka Onesphore - AGRIMOD SARL, DR Congo
- Tayba Hatiym - BAUS Taka Enterprise, Kenya
- Pacifique Niyorurema - Fresco Fruits, Rwanda
- Mohamed Osman Abdulkadir - Greenlife Agribusiness LTD, Somalia
- Anok Athor Deng - Future of Family Planning, South Sudan
- Faith Kuya - SafeSip Limited, Tanzania
- Munyasa Hellen - Helton Traders Limited, Uganda
During the session, EAC Secretary General, Veronica Nduva, expressed appreciation for the regional hackathon, stating, "The hackathon brings together diverse minds to brainstorm, collaborate, and develop innovative solutions to real challenges. This event is not just about competition, but about collaboration, learning, growth, and harnessing the collective intelligence of our women and youth to address the pressing economic issues facing our region."
1st Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, Rebecca Kadaga, commended the EAC’s efforts in promoting regional development and supporting innovative solutions, adding, "By supporting youth and women-led solutions, we are building a more inclusive and prosperous East Africa."
In a similar vein, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for Regional Cooperation, Gen. James Kabarebe, emphasized the significance of such initiatives in driving regional collaboration. "These initiatives are vital in fostering cooperation and empowering our youth and women to play a central role in shaping the future of our region," he said.
Kenya's Principal Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development, Abdi Dubat, noted the importance of the discussions during the forum in identifying both the challenges and opportunities in the EAC region, saying, "The insights shared throughout these discussions have clarified the challenges we face and illuminated a path forward. While the journey ahead may have its hurdles, our shared commitment, collaboration, and practical solutions will shape East Africa’s future."
Mr Marius Weist, GIZ’s Component Lead for Organisational Development and Outreach, highlighted the importance of empowering youth and women to achieve the region’s economic goals. He remarked, "By providing women and youth with the tools and support needed to solve real economic challenges, GIZ aims to create a more inclusive economy that benefits everyone."
In addition to celebrating the winners, the 7th Annual Secretary General’s Forum made key recommendations for advancing regional integration, including the removal of barriers to the free movement of goods, services, and people, strengthening youth representation in policymaking, and increasing investment in digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas to support SMEs.
The forum also called for policies to promote sustainable agriculture and renewable energy solutions, particularly for small-scale farmers.
The event also emphasized the importance of cross-border dialogues to address emerging issues and encouraged local governments to actively participate in EAC decision-making. In the health sector, the harmonization of health insurance systems and healthcare standards was recommended to improve healthcare delivery across the region.
As the East African Community continues its journey toward deeper integration and development, the innovative solutions presented by the hackathon winners serve as a powerful reminder of the region's potential to overcome its challenges through collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth.
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