Ushahidi Code Beyond Barriers Hackathon

The Ushahidi Platform was built to make it easier for people and communities to crowdsource data and inspire action. However, just like any other technology platform, there's a need for it to keep up with the changes and developments in the tech world. It’s for this reason that we partnered with Celo Foundation and iHub, with the support of Filecoin Foundation, to hold the Ushahidi Code Beyond Barriers Hackathon. The event sought to bring out innovative web3 solutions that can be leveraged to give marginalized communities a voice. It offered participants the opportunity to build innovative solutions across the themes of:

• Good Governance
• Human Rights Protection
• Climate Change and Climate Action
• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief

The hackathon submissions included innovative ideas incorporating:

• ReFi: A tool to solve systemic problems. Under this system, the goal becomes positive change with financial return circulating amongst the community. It supports a shift from an economy that is extractive to one that is regenerative.
• DAOs: An emerging form of legal structure that has no central governing body and whose members share a common goal to act in the best interest of the entity.
• NFTs: A digital asset that can come in the form of art, music, in-game items, videos, and more.
• GameFi: Play-to-earn blockchain games that offer economic incentives to players.
• SocialFi: SocialFi is a social media platform that combines the principles of decentralization and efficiency. SocialFi platforms offer users a more secure and efficient way to create, manage, and own social media content. SocialFi also provides users with a variety of tools to help them better connect with friends, family, and others.
• DeFi: Also known as Decentralised Finance, this is a peer-to-peer network that displaces financial intermediaries such as banks and brokers by leveraging blockchain smart contracts.

While each theme offered unique and creative build opportunities, they all needed to link to Ushahidi’s mission of building digital tools and running programs that give marginalized groups a voice.

On January 14, 2023, the web3 developers whose submissions were selected, and representatives from Ushahidi and Celo Foundation, met in person for a workshop aimed at giving the hackathon participants more information on how the Ushahidi Platform works. During this session, Ushahidi developers shared some of the Platform challenges and how Web3 solutions can be used to address these challenges. The developers then formed teams and started the ideation process. Over a period of 7 days, the developers iterated and refined their ideas while mentors from Ushahidi and Celo Foundation supported them when they faced blockers in their solutions.

We convened at iHub for the hackathon finale on January 21, 2023. The seven teams presented their solutions before a panel of judges that included representatives from Ushahidi and the Celo Foundation, as well as experts in Web3 technologies. All the solutions presented were judged on:

• Technology – Does the solution execute engineering skills and quality code?
• Impact – Does the solution meet the user’s needs and outline its impact and sustainability?
• Inspiration – How much do the judges love the idea and are they excited by it?
• Presentation – Does the team present the solution clearly?
• Design – Does the solution present an attention to aesthetics, interaction and user interface?

At the end of the presentations, 3 teams emerged winners:

Team Taarifu (Winners)

This project proposed leveraging blockchain technology to create a decentralized citizen reporting platform. This platform would then employ community-driven curation to streamline the validation and verification process and ensure the accuracy and credibility of the disseminated information.

Team Inua Sauti DAO (1st Runner Up)

The team proposed partnering with the Ushahidi platform to verify information shared during deployments. In addition, it would also incentivize people who are first to verify information.

Team Kura (2nd Runner Up)

The proposed solution was a blockchain-based voting system that utilizes smart contracts and cryptography to ensure the transparency, security, and immutability of the voting process. This system would allow for a decentralized and tamper-proof voting process that guarantees the integrity of the vote.

Other solutions presented were:

Team Chaguzi

The proposed solution sought to improve the experience and usability in monitoring general elections by leveraging the power of active citizen participation, Blockchain technology, and AI for real-time reporting of any incidents significant to the election.

Team Code of Duty

The solution was centered around creating a decentralised evidence management system that utilizes Blockchain technology to store and secure digital evidence.

Team NLMB

The solution involved creating a waste management system that allows for transparent tracking of waste collection and disposal. This would allow for real-time monitoring of waste management practices and identification of areas where improvements can be made.

Team Nishati

The proposed solution’s main objectives were to use blockchain technology and create awareness to improve the transparency and traceability of the food supply chain. This would be especially helpful in regions experiencing food shortages, in order to increase the efficiency of food distribution and reduce food shortages.

The winning team received KES 100,000 while the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner up received KES 30,000 and KES 20,000 respectively. The groups now have the opportunity to work with Ushahidi and the Celo Foundation to further develop their solutions and integrate them into the Ushahidi Platform. All participants were awarded with certificates of participation and KES 1,000 through Valora, a crypto wallet built on Celo.

With the world facing an unprecedented number of crises, it is important to have effective tools for managing and disseminating information. Ushahidi and the Celo Foundation hope that the winning solutions will be instrumental in improving the Ushahidi Platform to make information more accessible, actionable and secure. The Ushahidi Code Beyond Barriers Hackathon was an opportunity for developers and experts to showcase their skills and contribute to making the Ushahidi Platform more efficient in raising the voices of people around the world, and especially in marginalized communities.

About our Hackathon Partners

• Celo Foundation: Celo is a mobile-first layer 1 blockchain protocol that aims to facilitate a global payment infrastructure using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. It’s on a mission to build a regenerative digital economy that creates conditions of prosperity for all.
• iHub: iHub is an innovation centre dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity.
• Filecoin Foundation: The Foundation coordinates and supports the creation and improvement of open-source software and open protocols for decentralized data storage and retrieval networks.