To enhance financial inclusion in Sub Saharan Africa, the MTN Group has called for developers to participate in its Mobile Money (MoMo) Access Programming Interface (API) Hackathon. MTN is in partnership with Ericsson to provide developers with the opportunity to create a range of digital financial applications using its MoMo API platform. The Hackathon is open to developers in Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia.
MTN has been in the news for diversifying its telecommunication services to cater to the financially excluded. Mobile Money (MoMo) is a product available in 14 countries across Africa. The MoMo API platform is to be used by developers to create products and solutions that will financially include millions of Africans.
Serigne Dioum, MTN’s Executive for Mobile Financial Services had this to say about the Hackathon – “Enhancing financial inclusion through digital technology is an essential element in supporting the continent’s realization of some of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.” He added that the Hackathon was an opportunity for more tech developers, entrepreneurs and businesses to work with MTN to bridge the financial divide while creating opportunities for themselves.
See also: Applications Open for AFD Digital Africa Challenge
2019 MoMo Hackathon
- Developers must be located and operational in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda or Zambia,
- Developers are required to use MTN MoMo API to create mobile applications that are suitable in the market where they operate,
- The final 12 will be selected by MTN and Ericsson in each country,
- Preselected applicants will develop their ideas within 2 weeks and are required to submit a live demo of their application
A total of $7000 will be distributed amongst the top three finalists, viz – the 1st prize is $2500 and a trip to Ericsson’s Innovation Lab in Sweden, 2nd prize is $2000 cash prize and the 3rd gets $1500 cash prize. Registration closes on the 8th of December, 2019. Interested? Apply here.