Digital Democracy Challenge seeks innovative, low-cost, and viable digital solutions to maintain civic and democratic public space in situations when freedoms of expression and association have been curtailed or denied altogether.
The project is looking for digital solutions to keep the democratic space alive, create a forum for conversation and ideas, and provide firsthand experiences of government actions.
Sessions and mentors helped the startups refine and improve their ideas during the 72-hour collaborative digital process.
Divao, the winner, is a Hong Kong-based private blockchain firm that provides a decentralized platform for growing a local community. Locals in a neighborhood can use it to search, offer, and exchange services, goods, and other communal values like spaces.
SafeNow, the runner-up, is a Nigerian smartphone application that provides a one-click option for reporting an unsafe incident to helpmates and security authorities. The platform strives to raise awareness about the importance of family and friend safety.
Crowd Journal, the third-place winner, is a Kenyan digital platform that facilitates participatory (crowd) journalism to amplify under-represented perspectives in mainstream media.
The winners each got a monetary award of $10,000 for first place, $8,000 for second place, and $6,000 for third place.
For more information about the Digital Democracy Challenge, visit the website.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
Team REWEBA from Kenya wins the 2021 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition