Theme

Leveraging Data Science to Analyze and Enhance Development Cooperation

Challenge

UNDP Seoul Policy Centre is looking for functional prototypes that extract, analyze, and visualize insights from Official Development Assistance (ODA)

Target participants

Data scientists, developers, UI/UX designers, researchers, international development practitioners, tech enthusiasts; students and professionals are welcome to apply.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to participants aged 19-34. All participants must reside in the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the time of application and for the duration of the agreement.

Team size

2-4 members

Awards

Key dates

Background: What we are looking for

This hackathon is a unique competition inviting participants to develop innovative microservices to derive insights from data on Official Development Assistance (ODA). UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) will select three winning teams, awarding them a two-month agreement to refine their initial prototypes.

UNDP Seoul Policy Centre is looking for prototype solutions with potential to be scaled to support both our internal processes and work on the ground. By developing microservices that effectively combine a comprehensive ODA database with complementary datasets, we aim to uncover hidden ODA patterns, predict future trends, and better understand the complex relationships that shape development cooperation. The ultimate aim is to use these insights to inform better decision-making and effectiveness across our Centre operations.

This hackathon represents an opportunity to apply cutting-edge data science techniques to transform data into actionable intelligence that can inform better policymaking and more effective development cooperation.

Potential research questions

The challenge offers teams freedom to define the scope and specificity of their research questions and explore development cooperation effectiveness from multiple perspectives.

Participants can approach diverse research questions, ranging from broad macro-level trends to sector-specific investigations looking into areas such as healthcare, gender equity, climate resilience, infrastructure development, among others. The key is to uncover meaningful insights that may not be otherwise captured in mainstream or dominant data sources. Some examples include:

Aid Flows & Patterns

• What factors influence ODA allocation decisions?
• How do economic shocks affect aid commitments?
• What are the emerging trends in sector-specific aid?

Sentiment & Perception

• How does media coverage affect public support for aid?
• What is the relationship between domestic politics and aid commitments?
• How does aid sentiment vary across different regions?

Policy & Impact

• How do electoral cycles influence aid policies?
• What is the relationship between aid and policy reform?
• How do multilateral vs. bilateral aid patterns differ?

Effectiveness & Outcomes

• What factors contribute to aid effectiveness?
• How does aid impact different development indicators?
• What are the spillover effects of targeted aid?

Datasets

Participants will be provided with the pre-cleaned OECD Development Assistance Committee Creditor Reporting System (DAC CRS) data for the Republic of Korea as a primary dataset. Participants may also use the unprocessed (raw) OECD DAC CRS data if they wish to. Additionally, participants should use the dataset in conjunction with publicly available datasets. Participants may also explore alternative and unconventional data sources.

Questions and support

Professionals from USPC to advise on practical use cases. Please email info.kr@undp.org in case of any technical questions.

Submission requirements

Submission documents

1. GitHub repository containing:
   • Source code
   • README.md file
2. Written proposal specifying a two-month timeline for further prototype development in collaboration with USPC. If the team is selected, this will form the basis for the milestones as stipulated in the agreement to be entered with USPC. (See Participant Handbook for proposal template)
3. Demo video walkthrough of the initial prototype (max. 5 minutes)

Submission Process

1. Create a private GitHub repository
2. Share access with: https://github.com/sejoonlim-undp
3. Send email to info.kr@undp.org with your idea proposal attached as PDF and link to demo video to confirm that you have completed the challenge once done.

Award model

The selected teams will win an agreement with USPC to further develop their initial prototype. The agreement money will be given to the team in instalments based on milestones and deliverables described in the proposal submitted by each team. During the two months of the Further Prototype Development stage, teams are not expected to work for USPC full-time. Teams will work independently and may distribute their work hours and deliverables as they see fit, under the understanding that the final product meets the expectations outlined in the agreement. The agreement amount will be inclusive of any applicable taxes and duties that any of the parties may incur.

The teams who are selected to undertake the prototype development process will be required to enter into an agreement with USPC, which will include more detailed conditions pertaining to the prototype development*.

* Please refer to https://popp.undp.org/procedure/innovation-challenges for more information on UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures.

Information session on 30 June 2025 (Recorded)

Watch video

Attachments

Participant handbook   primary dataset