Eligibility Criteria

Open to registered undergraduate or postgraduate students from universities or tertiary institutions in Mauritius. Teams should comprise 2–5 members from diverse academic disciplines. Female participation is strongly encouraged. 

What to expect if you are selected

A multi-phase approach will be adopted to maximize engagement, foster creativity, and ensure sustainable outcomes.

• Phase 1: Pre-Hackathon Engagement (1 week)

  • Challenge Formulation: Detailed challenge statements will be refined through collaborative input from industry leaders and government agencies.   

  • Ideation Workshops & Team Formation: Optional workshops will be offered to help participants refine their initial ideas and facilitate the formation of strong, cross-functional teams.   

  • Resource Provision: Participants will be provided with pre-configured APIs, cloud platforms, and access to relevant datasets (e.g., trade data, market access information via Market Access Map, anonymized transaction data). A free virtual course on digital trade fundamentals will be offered to upskill participants.   

• Phase 2: The Hackathon Event (2 weeks, potentially hybrid/online)

  • Kick-off & Mentorship: The event will commence with an official launch featuring keynote speakers from Government, amongst others, from the industry. This will be followed by an intensive period of coding and development. Continuous mentorship will be provided by a dedicated pool of industry experts, technical specialists, and subject matter experts, offering guidance and support to teams throughout the event.   

  • Development & Prototyping: Teams will work collaboratively on their solutions, with a strong emphasis on developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) that demonstrate core functionality and address the challenge statements.   

  • Check-ins & Feedback: Regular check-ins with mentors and organizers will be scheduled to provide constructive feedback, address technical issues, and ensure that projects remain aligned with the hackathon's objectives.  

• Phase 3: Post-Hackathon

  • Judging & Awards: Projects will be rigorously evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, potential impact, and scalability. Prizes will include awards, and opportunities for pilot project at Mauritius Post.   

  • Showcase & Networking: An event will be organized where winning solutions are presented to a wider audience, including potential investors, senior government officials for potential partnerships.   

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on:

• Innovation and clarity of the idea

• Technical feasibility and scalability

• Team skills and diversity

• Long-term impact potential

• Quality of the concept summary

Expected Deliverables

Each selected team will present:

• A prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

• A 15-minute pitch presentation and demonstration of the solution

• A short technical concept note (2–3 pages)

Winning teams will gain opportunities through the MITCI to pilot test with Mauritius Post Ltd.

Submission Requirements

To apply for the hackathon, interested teams should send an email containing:

1. Expression of Interest Form (Download here)

2. Copy of original certification of legal registration

3. Team profile (max 500 words)

4. Concept summary (max 2000 words)

5. CVs of team members.

Language of submission: English

Email: registry.mu@undp.org
Subject Line: EOI – Smart Logistics for AfCFTA Hackathon 2026

Deadline: 15 January 2026 (23:59 Mauritius Time) 

Timeline 

• EOI Deadline: 15 January 2026

• Results Announcement: Early February 2026

• Hackathon & Bootcamp: February 2026

*Disclaimer
Submission of an Expression of Interest does not guarantee selection. UNDP applies a zero-tolerance policy to fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest.

Contact
UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles
Tel: (230) 212 3726
Email: registry.mu@undp.org