First MENA

Civic Tech

Hackathon & Fellowship

APPLICATIONS CLOSED
COHORT 2: TO BE ANNOUNCED

Cohort 1 brought 65 fellows from 7 countries together to reinvent how citizens engage in public affairs: 25 prototypes, five seed-funded pilots, one growing movement. Cohort 2 will be announced here and on our channels.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to ignite a dynamic civic tech movement across the MENA region by empowering bold innovators to craft groundbreaking solutions that expand civic spaces, elevate citizens’ voices, and reinforce democratic governance through fresh, and forward-thinking approaches

Learn More About Us

Be a FORCE
for Change

Cohort 1 built tech-driven solutions that open civic spaces and empower communities. Cohort 2 is coming.

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Our Purpose

Why the Fellowship

Across MENA, civic spaces are under pressure and citizen participation is held back by outdated systems. Code for MENA bridges that gap. Launched by the Digital Democracy Initiative in partnership with CIVICUS, and led in MENA by SmartGov, the fellowship brings activists, developers, and designers together to build technology that expands civic space. Fellows receive tailored training, hands-on mentorship, and seed funding for the strongest solutions. Cohort 1 concluded in March 2026 with five pilots now live across the region.

It’s Time to
Reclaim Civic Spaces
Through Technology.

The four themes our fellows build within.

Transparency, Accountability, and Monitoring

Develop tools and platforms to enhance government transparency and accountability, monitor policies and government actions, and address misconduct. Enable citizens to make sense of government data and use it for data-driven policy advocacy.

Public Engagement

Create solutions to increase citizen participation in public decision-making processes, with a focus on local levels. This includes, participatory budgeting, neighborhood forums and peer to peer local sharing

Civic Crowdsourcing

Build systems for community-driven data collection and analysis, including civic journalism, disinformation and fact-checking, and collective data sourcing.

Community Organizing Tech

Empower local communities and grassroots initiatives, mobilize collaborative advocacy efforts, and strengthen community-led initiatives.

Key Numbers

Fellow Participants

Total Seed Funding Floor

0 USD

Participating Countries

0 +

Renowned Experts

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The Hackathon

How it Works

When applications are open, first check that you meet the eligibility requirements. If you are applying as an activist or as a team, we encourage you to brainstorm ideas and prepare your application carefully to address one of the hackathon’s priority themes. If you are applying without an idea or a team, we will match you with a team based on project needs.

Once accepted, you will participate in panel discussions, receive tailored training and one-on-one mentorship, and join an immersive 48-hour hackathon where you will develop your idea and pitch it to the jury.

All fellows receive:

• Seed funding opportunities for the top four finalist teams
• Hands-on training to help you excel in your work
• Membership in a community of like-minded peers
• Networking opportunities with regional and global leaders
• Personalized one-on-one mentorship
• A certificate of fellowship completion
• Fully-funded trip to Bangkok for winning teams to attend ICSW
• Ongoing follow-up support

Eligibility

& Key Information

Hackathon Primary Focus Areas

While our hackathon themes remain central, we place special emphasis on:

Mobile‑first solutions That optimize for on‑the‑go access
Open‑source technologies To democratize technology and promote collaboration
Creative UX/UI design That drives engagement
Digital inclusion For underrepresented communities
Digital security & resilience To safeguard data and systems

The Fellowship’s Training Curriculum

We’ve designed an intensive, scale‑ready programme covering:

Digital Security & Data Protection To Ensure Participants Safety & Data Governance
Design Thinking: Creative UX/UI combined with gamification & nudging techniques
Effective Coding & Testing Practices: Agile development methodologies and product‑management frameworks to ensure quality and adaptability
Storytelling & Pitching To craft compelling narratives
Fundraising & Proposal Writing For sustainable impact

The Fellowship Structure

The Fellowship is fully virtual, hosted on Gatheround.com to create an immersive, interactive experience—complete with breakout sessions, workshops, and peer networking.

Key Eligibility

Applicants must be aged 18–40 and residents of one of the following MENA countries: Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, or Syria. Individuals, teams, and organizations are welcome to apply—whether or not they have a project idea. No technical background is required, but a strong commitment to civic innovation and social impact is essential.

Who is behind this initiative?

This programme—launched by the Digital Democracy initiative in partnership with CIVICUS—features four regional civic‑tech hackathons (Latin America, Western Europe, East Asia, and MENA) and concludes with Code for MENA, the premier track founded and directed by SmartGov

How will the winners’ funding be distributed?

The total funding available for all winners is $31,000. This amount will be distributed among the winning solutions based on the specific needs and feasibility of their proposed projects. The final allocation will be decided by the judging panel during the hackathon.

There is no fixed amount per winner; instead, the distribution will depend on the requirements and viability of each solution. It is important to note that this funding is not intended as full project financing, but rather as seed support to further develop and strengthen your idea. In addition, there may be opportunities for a subsequent round of funding from DDI to build on the outcomes of this program.

Cohort 1 Mentors

Cohort 1 fellows were guided by a diverse group of renowned mentors: experts in design, software development, fundraising, grant management, storytelling, and pitching. Through more than 90 hours of tailored coaching and hands-on support, they equipped participants with the skills and strategies to turn ideas into impactful, scalable ventures.