HackTheDivide: Call for Young African Innovators to Shape Digital Solutions

The thematic areas of the hackathon are TVET and youth employment, Labour mobility and migration, Entrepreneurship and business development, AI for the public good, Gender equality, inclusion and the transition to formal work, and Local innovation and governance.

This initiative is part of the broader Skills for Fair Digital Transitions in Africa program, co-organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), in partnership with the African Union Commission – Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. The hackathon aligns with the ILO Decent Work Agenda, Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, and continental frameworks such as AU Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 2025, placing digital skills at the centre of inclusive and human-centred transitions.

Applications are open to young innovators aged 18–35 from 25 African countries including Algeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and others. Selected participants will collaborate in Nairobi on 7–8 October 2025, where travel, accommodation, and meals will be fully covered. They will work in teams with mentorship and present their solutions during the broadcast event “Skills for Fair Digital Transitions in Africa” in Turin, linking local innovation with global decision-making.

One winning team will be awarded a tailored incubation program with I3P, Italy’s leading tech incubator, which includes a fully funded trip to Italy, ongoing mentorship, and access to Italy’s innovation ecosystem. Applications must be submitted by 7 September 2025, with results announced on 15 September 2025.

For more information, visit ITCILO.