The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa launched the second in a series of 12 hackathons under its Ethiopia Hacks! Program.

The theme of the second hackathon, held at the American Center in Addis Ababa, was “digital identification”, where participants explored out technology could be used to register and correctly identify refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs), ensuring they receive appropriate benefits, while protecting individual privacy.

Through Ethiopia Hacks!  The U.S. Embassy provides a platform to encourage emerging tech-savvy to exercise their design, problem-solving, and coding skills to address challenges in their communities. Moreover, students can use this opportunity as a networking platform to further develop and prepare applications for markets where there is need for it.

U.S. Embassy Spokesperson Nick Barnett said, “We hope the hackathons show the participants as well as the wider community that Ethiopians have what it takes to tackle their own challenges with home-grown solutions.  It is another way the United States is investing in the capacity of Ethiopians to build a bright future for themselves.”

In total, the Ethiopia Hacks! Program will invest in the capacity of 600 tech-savvy youth, who will have the opportunity to participate and generate solutions for their communities. Funding is provided jointly by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Ethiopia Hacks! Will take place in Addis Ababa, Jimma, Dire Dawa and Bahir Dar.

Ethiopia Hacks! Is conducted in partnership with the Google Developers Group (GDG- Addis) and the Centre for Women’s Economic Environment (CAWEE).  Each hackathon will challenge young tech developers to identify prototype solutions to challenges in Ethiopia.