UNICEF Ghana Opens AI Hackathon to Develop Solutions for Maternal and Child Health
Young innovators in Ghana have an opportunity to use artificial intelligence to tackle challenges affecting maternal, newborn and under-five survival in Northern Ghana through the UNICEF AI for Nurturing Care Hackathon.
The hackathon, organised through the UNICEF StartUp Lab, is focused on developing practical, low-connectivity AI solutions that can support frontline health workers and caregivers and improve access to essential health and nutrition services.
UNICEF is particularly looking for teams capable of developing solutions in areas such as early risk detection, localised nutrition intelligence, last-mile referral tracking, and smarter CHPS workflows.
Who Can Participate?
The hackathon is designed for teams of 2 to 3 members combining technical skills with relevant health, nutrition or social-impact expertise.
Teams must meet the following requirements:
- Combine technical expertise in development, data or design with domain knowledge in health, nutrition or social impact.
- For a two-member team, at least one member must be based in the Northern Region.
- For a three-member team, at least two members must be based in the Northern Region.
- Have at least one female member.
- Have at least one team member with Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP) experience.
- Submit a GitHub repository containing the team’s source code.
What Can Selected Teams Gain?
Participants will have the opportunity to compete for a share of GHS 110,000 in cash prizes.
Selected teams will also benefit from:
- A fully sponsored three-day bootcamp in Tamale at HOPin Academy.
- Expert mentorship from UNICEF, MEST Africa and HOPin Academy.
- Potential pathways to incubation and acceleration.
- Opportunities for real-world field piloting of their solutions.
Building Technology for Real-World Impact
The hackathon forms part of UNICEF Ghana’s broader StartUp Lab initiative, which supports technology-driven solutions addressing challenges affecting children and young people.
For this hackathon, the focus is on applying AI responsibly at the community level, particularly in contexts where connectivity may be limited. The goal is to develop solutions that can work within Ghana’s existing health system and help frontline workers and caregivers better support mothers, newborns and young children.
Application Deadline
11 August 2026
Teams interested in participating should complete the pre-application form before the deadline.
How to Apply
Interested teams can apply directly through the official UNICEF Ghana AI for Nurturing Care Hackathon application page.
Official opportunity and application:
UNICEF Ghana – AI for Nurturing Care Hackathon
Applicants should carefully review all team and eligibility requirements before submitting their application.
