The Africa’s Talking Cybersecurity Hackathon is an exciting opportunity for developers, security professionals, and innovators to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges. Participants will explore secure API development, fraud prevention, data privacy, mobile security, and more, leveraging Africa’s Talking APIs to build cutting-edge security solutions. With mentorship from industry leaders, exclusive networking opportunities, and exciting prizes up for grabs, this hackathon is the perfect platform to enhance your skills and make a lasting impact on Africa’s digital security landscape. Don’t miss out—register now and be part of the solution!

Africa's Talking API Links

Participants will have access to the following Africa’s Talking APIs to integrate into their solutions:

• SMS API – Send secure SMS communications
• Voice API – Implement secure voice call solutions
• USSD API – Create secure USSD applications
• Airtime API – Prevent fraud in airtime top-up transactions
• Application Data - Get Africa’s Talking Application Data for Processing

Key Outcomes

• Develop and present innovative cybersecurity solutions for real-world applications.
• Gain hands-on experience with Africa’s Talking APIs and security best practices.
• Network with industry leaders, mentors, and potential employers.
• Compete for exciting prizes and recognition in the cybersecurity space.
• Contribute to strengthening Africa’s digital security ecosystem.

Challenges to be Addressed

• Secure API Development: Enhancing API security through robust authentication, encryption, and authorization mechanisms.
• Fraud Prevention & Detection: Implementing AI-driven fraud detection tools to prevent identity theft and fraudulent transactions.
• Data Privacy & Protection: Developing solutions to ensure compliance with data protection regulations and secure user data.
• Communication Security: Strengthening encryption protocols for SMS, voice, and chat applications.
• Threat Intelligence & Monitoring: Creating real-time security monitoring tools to detect and mitigate cyber threats.
• Mobile Security: Securing mobile applications from malware, unauthorized access, and data leaks.
• API Security Best Practices: Implementing measures to prevent API abuse, rate limiting, and access control vulnerabilities.

Hackathon Objectives

🔹 Why join?

✅ Solve a real-world problem – Help people safeguard their information.

✅ Create & innovate – Work with tech tools that power smart solutions.

✅ Showcase your skills – Great for your portfolio & career growth.

✅ Network & collaborate – Connect with creative minds and mentors.

Are you ready to level up your skills and be the hero the cyber world needs? 🔥💻

What Participants Should Expect

• Hands-on Coding Experience: Build real-world cybersecurity solutions using Africa’s Talking APIs.
• Workshops & Mentorship: Learn from industry experts and cybersecurity professionals.
• Collaboration & Networking: Connect with like-minded innovators, industry leaders, and potential employers.
• Competitive Prizes: Win exciting cash prizes, exclusive swag, and opportunities for incubation and funding.
• Exposure & Recognition: Get your work recognized in the cybersecurity and tech ecosystem.
• Certification & Career Growth: Receive certificates of participation and potential job opportunities in the cybersecurity space.

Target Audience:

The hackathon is open to anyone passionate about software development and API integration.

Who Should Attend :

• Tech enthusiasts 
• Entrepreneurs and innovators
• Students and academics
• Developers
• Product Designers
• CTOs
• Data Scientist
• AI and ML developers
• cybersecurity enthusiasts
• Cybersecurity professionals 

New to Africa's Talking? Get started here.

Developer Documentation: here (We welcome feedback)

THEME: Cybersecurity Solutions- Using AT's, API's🚀

The winning solution will receive cash prizes as follows (This can change depending on with the resources available):

• Winner - $100
• 1st Runners Up - $50
• 2nd Runners Up - $25

Africa's Talking powers communications solutions across Africa with simplified access to telco infrastructure, developers use our powerful SMS, USSD, Voice, Chat, Insights, Airtime, and Mobile Data to bring your ideas to life, as you build and sustain scalable businesses.

Agenda:

1. Warm-Up

• Introductions
• Form teams where need be.
• Feedback
• Feature requests

2. Building/hacking: Code in GitHub/GitLab/BitBucket and deploy in Docker/Automated CI/Travis CI/Bamboo

• Note: This section needs additional setup.
• Upon commit, the repository is built and deployed to an accessible web server or an S3 bucket. Technology used.

3. Demonstration and Wrap-up

• Opportunities
• Network
• Innovate
• Access to our Talent bench (You can get a job or a gig on the spot)

NOTE: DO NOT FORGET TO CARRY YOUR LAPTOP!

Submit your Idea:

Hackathon idea submission form 

Gigs:

We would love to reach out to you so that you can build for our customers, please fill out this form with details to ensure we have your details:

GIG/HACK DEVELOPER PORTFOLIO FORM

Join our community channels:

Slack & WhatsApp:

• Join Africa's Talking slack community here
• Join Elarian Slack community here

Please follow us on Twitter handles to:

• @AfricasTalking

You can get our videos, recaps, and event interviews on our youtube channels, subscribe to get updates:

• Africa's Talking Youtube Channel
• Elarian Youtube Channel

Africa's Talking community allows developers to learn skills for the modern-day African Developer. We are language and framework agnostic. All developers are welcome. This is where Africa's Talking developers community meets to build, learn and exchange knowledge.

We are helping software developers and businesses to bring their ideas to life through easy-to-use APIs quickly.

Would you like to partner with us? Kindly contact the Developer Experience Team.