Palestinian innovators and students are invited to apply for the INDIGO Innovation Challenges for Local Government Hackathon, a program designed to develop human-centered digital solutions for municipal challenges.
At a Glance
- Opportunity Type: Hackathon & Knowledge Expansion Programme
- For: Digital entrepreneurs, innovators, and university students in Palestine
- Key Benefits: Hands-on HCD training, expert coaching, and potential implementation support
- Location: Palestine (Hybrid: Intensive workshops and weekly online coaching)
Hackathon Overview
The INDIGO Innovation Challenges for Local Government Hackathon is part of the “Developing Capacities for Human-Centred and Inclusive Service Design in Palestinian Municipalities” project. Implemented by GIZ, the program guides participants through a structured, sprint-based Human-Centred Design (HCD) format. Teams will map real municipal challenges, identify innovation opportunities, and prototype solutions that respond directly to the needs of citizens. GIZ will assess the possibility of further supporting the development of the most promising prototypes for local government implementation.
Key Benefits
- Hands-on Experience: Gain practical skills in design thinking and Human-Centred Design applied to real-world municipal service challenges.
- Product Development: Develop innovative, inclusive, and sustainable prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).
- Expert Mentorship: Access to expert panels and weekly 1-hour coaching sessions during April and May 2026.
- Professional Exposure: Pitch prototypes to stakeholders and understand the digital governance ecosystem in Palestine.
Eligibility Criteria
- Digital Entrepreneurs and Innovators: Individuals with practical experience looking to deepen expertise in HCD and develop scalable municipal prototypes.
- Higher Education Students: University students passionate about digital public service innovation and creative problem-solving.
- Commitment: Participants must be available for both intensive workshops and weekly coaching sessions (Total workload: 40 hours).
Key Dates and Schedule
- Workshop 1: April 20–21, 2026 (From insight to viable digital municipal solution concepts).
- Workshop 2: May 17–18, 2026 (From early prototypes to scalable solutions).
- Weekly Coaching: Ongoing 1-hour sessions throughout April and May 2026.
Thematic Tracks
Participants will choose one of the following six topics:
- Clean Tech: Sustainable and resource-efficient municipal services.
- Emergency Response: Resilient, citizen-focused crisis and preparedness solutions.
- Mobility: Accessible and efficient urban and transport services.
- Sustainable Waste Management and Sanitation: Circular and inclusive approaches to waste.
- Water Access and Resilience: Reliable access and resilience to climate pressures.
- Public Digital Financial Services: Inclusive and transparent financial service delivery.
- Data Governance and Interoperability: Data-driven, connected municipal services.
How to Apply
Interested innovators and students should apply through the official registration link to secure their spot. Applications are reviewed based on the relevance of ideas, commitment, and readiness to participate.
Apply Now: Registration Link
About INDIGO II
The INclusive DIgital GOvernance (INDIGO) II program is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It focuses on enhancing digital public services through human-centered design in Palestinian municipalities.
Learn More: LinkedIn
