#BuildwithAT #WeloveNerds #WomenInTech

Overview:

Join Africa’s Talking for an inspiring, impact-driven Women in Technology Hackathon themed Libraries and Archival Services! This is your opportunity to reimagine how knowledge is preserved, accessed, and shared in the digital age. Using Africa’s Talking APIs (SMS, USSD, Voice, Airtime and Data, Insights, Chat and more), participants will build innovative solutions that digitize library systems, improve archival access, and enhance community engagement with information resources.

From creating smart catalog systems and digital preservation tools to building inclusive access platforms for remote communities, this hackathon challenges you to blend technology with cultural preservation. Whether you're passionate about education, data management, or digital transformation, this is your chance to build solutions that protect history and democratize access to knowledge, led by women in tech.

Why Attend?

• Preserve Knowledge with Technology: Use your technical skills to modernize and protect Africa’s literary and historical heritage.

• Hands-On API Integration: Gain practical experience working with Africa’s Talking APIs to build accessible, scalable information systems.

• Bridge Tradition & Innovation: Combine digital tools with archival services to create meaningful solutions for libraries, schools, and communities.

• Collaborate & Network: Work with like-minded women technologists passionate about education, preservation, and digital access.

• Showcase Your Innovation: Present your solution to judges and stakeholders who can help bring your idea to life in real institutions.

Key Focus Areas:

• Digital Library Platforms: Develop modern cataloging systems that allow users to search, borrow, and reserve books using web, SMS, or USSD platforms, making library access seamless and inclusive.

• Archival Digitization & Preservation: Create tools that support scanning, indexing, tagging, and preserving historical documents, manuscripts, photos, and audio archives for long-term digital storage.

• Community Access & Inclusion: Build SMS or USSD-based systems that enable rural or low-connectivity communities to access library resources and educational materials.

• Smart Notifications & Engagement: Design systems that send automated reminders for due dates, new arrivals, events, or community reading programs using Africa’s Talking APIs.

• Knowledge Discovery & AI Integration: Leverage Generative AI to summarize archived materials, recommend books, classify documents, or power intelligent search assistants for libraries.

• Library Management & Analytics: Develop dashboards and reporting tools that help librarians manage inventory, monitor usage patterns, and make data-driven decisions.ms that allow commuters to give feedback, report service issues, and contribute data to improve transport planning.

Target Attendees:

The hackathon is open to anyone passionate about hardware, software, IoT, and API integration. If you are:

• Software Developers and Engineers

• Data Scientists and IoT Enthusiasts

• Innovators in EdTech and Information Systems

• Entrepreneurs in Cultural Preservation & Digital Archiving

• Government and NGOs

Then this hackathon is for you!

These diverse groups of attendees will bring a range of skills, perspectives, and ideas to the hackathon, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment for innovation.

All developers, from all fields, are welcome for the hackathon.

What to Expect as an Attendee:

• Cutting-Edge Tools and Technologies: Gain access to Africa's Talking APIs and SDKs, specifically designed to streamline implementation and ensure a seamless experience.

• Mentorship and Guidance: Collaborate closely with seasoned experts from Africa's Talking, who will serve as mentors throughout the hackathon. Benefit from their guidance, insights, and support as we build together.

• Expand Your Network: As a member of our community, you'll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, potential collaborators, and industry professionals. Build valuable relationships that can propel your career or projects to new heights.

• Exciting Rewards and Recognition: Get a chance to win cash prizes and earn recognition for your innovative solutions. Get to receive accolades for your contributions through our social media, potential collaborators and other platforms.

• Exposure to other women in tech opportunities.

Solution Criteria:

• Use of Africa's Talking APIs: How effectively the project utilizes one or more of the Africa's Talking APIs i.e. SMS, USSD, Airtime, Voice, Insights, Chat.

• Innovation: The originality and creativity of the project idea and implementation.

• User Experience: How well the project meets user needs and provides an intuitive and seamless experience.

• Functionality: How well the project performs the intended functionality and handles errors and edge cases.

• Presentation: The clarity and effectiveness of the project demonstration and pitch.

New to Africa's Talking? Get started here.

Publish on Africa's Talking Marketplace

Marketplace : Publish your plugin/app for our customer and Call Back as a Service

Developer Documentation (We welcome feedback)

THEME: Libraries and Archival Services

The winning solution will receive cash prizes as follows:

• Winner - $100

• 1st Runners Up - $50

• 2nd Runners Up - $25

Social Media give-aways too!

More exclusive prizes and giveaways to attendees.

Contribute to open-source.

Agenda:

1. Introductions

2. Overview

• Technical hands-on session

3. Ideation

• Form teams where need be.

• Feedback

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

5. Demonstration and Wrap-up

• Teams or individuals will demonstrate what they have hacked for feedback or adoption.

Note: Carry a laptop

Opportunities:

• Network

• Innovate

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

Submit your Idea:

• Hackathon idea submission form

Join our community channels:

• Community Page:

  • Join Africa's Talking Women In Tech Community here

• Twitter (X):

  • Follow Our Page on X here

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

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 Women in Technology Team. 

Everyone is welcome!

Transport:

• Those who register by Monday 23rd February 2026, will receive a transport code to redeem for transport to and from the hackathon venue.