Mr Rogers Ndelwa, Small Industries Development Organisation – SIDO, Tanzania
How can space technologies and digital innovation help address challenges in agriculture and aquaculture? This was the central question inspiring the KijaniSpace Talent Hackathon, held at Adden Palace Hotel in Mwanza on 29–30 September 2026.
The two-day event brought together more than 70 people, including KijaniSpace project partners, local stakeholders, media representatives, and 45 Hackathon participants. It created a platform for young innovators to identify challenges, propose technology-based solutions, and explore how digital tools could contribute to sustainable development across the Lake Victoria Basin.
The Hackathon also formed part of the launch of the KijaniSpace Talent Development Training Programme in Mwanza, connecting young people’s innovative ideas with opportunities to develop practical technical skills.
Seven Teams. One Goal: Turning Challenges into Solutions.
At the heart of the Hackathon were seven teams, NetiSmart, Rock Eco Innovation, Mvua Sasa, Maji Sasa, Agro Mavuno, Samaki Watch, Ziwa Data, each presenting a problem–solution concept focused on challenges and opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, and the wider Lake Victoria Basin.
Each team delivered a problem–solution presentation, explaining the challenge it intended to address, describing its proposed solution, and demonstrating the potential value of its idea.
These presentations were more than an opportunity to share concepts. They encouraged participants to think about what it takes to move an idea beyond the initial stage: how it might be refined, tested in real-world settings, and potentially developed into a useful product or service.
The seven presentations marked an important starting point for continued innovation. Further technical development, testing, validation, and mentorship will be needed to assess the readiness and practical application of the proposed solutions.
Through this collaborative process, participants also had opportunities to strengthen their problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
Mentorship and recognition for promising ideas
Three teams were recognised as Hackathon winners in acknowledgement of their ideas and efforts. However, all seven participating teams will receive mentorship to help each team refine its concept and develop the best possible solutions to challenges facing agriculture and aquaculture in the Lake Victoria Basin.
Bringing Space Data Closer to Everyday Challenges
Space technologies may seem distant from everyday farming or fishing activities, but Earth Observation and digital tools can provide valuable information for addressing challenges on the ground and across water environments.
The Hackathon highlighted the potential of combining Earth Observation (EO), Copernicus satellite data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to support technology-based solutions.
Satellite data can provide information about land and environmental conditions, while IoT sensors can collect measurements from agricultural fields and aquatic environments. Together, these technologies can help inform approaches to agricultural monitoring, water-resource management, aquaculture, and climate-related decision-making.
For the participants, the challenge was to consider how these tools could be adapted to local needs and incorporated into solutions relevant to communities in the Lake Victoria Basin.
From Hackathon Ideas to Skills for Innovation
The event also marked an important step in the launch of the KijaniSpace Talent Development Training Programme, which runs from 29 September to 3 December 2026.
The programme is designed to strengthen participants’ technical knowledge and practical skills in areas that can support the development of digital and space-based applications. Training topics include:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis
- Remote sensing and Earth Observation
- IoT fundamentals and sensor programming
- Earth Observation and IoT application development
- Precision farming
By combining the Hackathon with structured technical training, KijaniSpace is creating a pathway for participants to build on their initial ideas, deepen their understanding of relevant technologies, and explore how these technologies can be applied to real-world challenges.
The programme provides an important opportunity to connect creative thinking with the technical knowledge needed to develop and assess practical solutions.
Local Stakeholders and Media Help Amplify the Message
The Hackathon brought together not only young innovators but also project partners, local stakeholders, and media representatives, highlighting the importance of collaboration in building an innovation ecosystem.
The event was officially opened by the District Administrative Secretary (DAS), representing the District Commissioner (DC) of Ilemela – Mwanza. The official opening underscored the importance of empowering young people to apply science, technology, and innovation to local development challenges.
Media coverage by Azam TV Tanzania, Star TV Tanzania, and Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) further extended the event’s reach, raising awareness of the KijaniSpace initiative and the potential role of space technologies and digital innovation in agriculture and aquaculture.
The participation of different groups helped bring attention to the value of collaboration between innovators, stakeholders, and organisations working towards sustainable Agriculture and Aquaculture development.
Building Tanzania’s Space and Digital Innovation Ecosystem
The KijaniSpace Talent Hackathon demonstrated how bringing young people together around real-world challenges can encourage new ideas and open pathways for technology-driven innovation.
The seven team presentations established a starting point for further exploration and development. With continued technical refinement, validation, and mentorship, the proposed concepts can be assessed for their potential to address practical needs.
The wider KijaniSpace initiative promotes the use of space-based and digital technologies to support sustainable development. The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme.
By combining innovation activities with talent development, KijaniSpace aims to nurture young talent, encourage technology-driven entrepreneurship, and explore solutions relevant to agriculture, aquaculture, and communities across the Lake Victoria Basin.
