Leaders International launches national hackathon for its crowd-solving ‘Idea Bank’ project

AMMAN — Leaders International (LI), an NGO for economic development, announced the launch of a national hackathon for its crowd-solving “Idea Bank” project to foster innovation and economic growth in Jordan. 

With funding from the US - Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the project will give Jordanian youth the opportunity to suggest innovative solutions to tackle issues and challenges faced by Jordanian governmental institutions, according to a LI statement. 

Young entrepreneurs and those with creative ideas can now submit their ideas on the project’s website: www.ideabankjo.com as individuals or teams responding to the specific challenges outlined by the following participating ministries: Ministry of Agriculture, which faces insufficient demand for agricultural extension (education and development support) services; Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, which faces a challenge in connecting ICT graduates with private sector companies; and the Jordan Investment Commission, which faces a challenge in providing continuous and periodically updated data on potential investors in Jordan and reaching out to them accordingly. 

Jordanian youth aged between 18 and 35 can participate in the hackathon by filling a registration form that introduces the idea, which is available on the project website’s challenges page. Proposed ideas must be clear, feasible, innovative, and sustainable, said the statement.

As for the selection criteria, LI will use a number of measures, including the idea’s distinction and feasibility, innovation and creativity, ease of implementation and sustainability and development potential. 

Eligible teams will be chosen by a qualified judging panel of experts and representatives of participating governmental institutions and the incubator IPARK, the statement said.

The hackathon will close with the selection of three winning teams, where each will receive a financial award of $5,000; in addition to four-month incubation services at IPARK, which will offer guidance and training to turn ideas into reality. 

Cultural Attache at the American Embassy and Representative of the US - Middle East Partnership Initiative, McKenzie Louw, expressed her excitement and pride in contributing to Jordan’s strides to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We look forward to seeing the hackathon foster an environment for innovative ideas to flourish while solving Jordan’s governmental challenges in the process. Idea Bank’s goals align 

greatly with ours, aiming to collectively support Jordan’s youth and foster digital transformation to achieve impactful sustainable development,” she added.

Country Manager at Leaders International Hamzeh Shamaileh said: “The project and its hackathon’s efforts to facilitate youth participation are setting the stage for more public-private partnerships to come.”

Shamaileh continued in stressing the importance of such collaborations, emphasising their role in “cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship and advancing more inclusive, participatory growth and development in Jordan”. 

Idea Bank’s three-day hackathon will commence on August 19, and those interested in participating should register on the project’s website. 

To be eligible to apply, participants must attend the entire three-day hackathon to reach the final evaluation stage where they will present their ideas to a judging panel.

Leaders International is specialised in planning and managing innovation and economic development projects, focusing on durable solutions for the private sector, tourism, innovation, and small and medium enterprises, in addition to capacity building for employment and digital transformation in developing countries, according to the statement.