UNESCO launches CodeTheCurve Hackathon to develop digital solutions in response to COVID-19
Article published on 07-04-2020
UNESCO, in partnership with IBM and SAP, has launched the CodeTheCurve Hackathon, to support students, educators, teachers, and the research community across the world in developing digital solutions to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this partnership, there will be built tech skills, entrepreneurial spirit and professional competencies, with a lens on digital creativity and cooperation to mobilize the world.
The initiative builds upon UNESCO’s long-standing efforts to foster digital skills and professional development competencies for youth, with a particular focus on young women software developers and designers.
The Hackathon participation is at team level. Interested applicants must be at least 16 years old and be part of teams between 2 - 6 people. The group must be gender-inclusive, and contain at least 1 person under the age of 25.
CodeTheCurve is organized in 2 phases, beginning with a video competition for ideas, and followed by a Hackathon among 40 selected teams, who will work to help solve 3 specific problems that the world faces in its current climate:
1) Ensuring continued learning
2) Data management and information
3) The present and the future: societal and health issues
The 40 selected teams will benefit from webinars, activity kits, and will ultimately pitch innovative deployable solutions and digital prototypes, in an overall immersive learning and hackathon journey, powered by organizations that have been brought together under the umbrella of CodeTheCurve.
CodeTheCurve timeline:
- April 6 – 9: call for applications
- April 15: the 40 selected teams for the hackathon will be announced
- April 16 – 21: access to learning resources for pre-collaboration
- April 22 – 23: online learning
- April 24 – 26: hackathon
- April 30: winning teams will be announced
Find out here the full participation instructions, including skills required, judging criteria and prizes.
CodeTheCurve is powered by:
UNESCO | IBM Z | SAP | Angel Hack | iHackOnline | TruChallenge | Internet Society | YPO | REDDS Capital | Global Accelerator Network | FOSSASIA | Society of Physician Entrepreneurs | Village Capital | People Centered Internet | Queen City Fintech | HealthTech Women | Robusta Studio | Pamplemousse Communication
