Harare Hack for Humanity
Hack Days
31 Chinamano Avenue Harare , Harare 00000 Zimbabwe
Event Description
The AI Collective Harare × Major League Hacking — Hack for Humanity 2026
Our chapter is joining Hack for Humanity, The AI Collective’s global initiative taking place in September 2026.
Hack for Humanity continues the conversations started during Humans in AI Week, where communities identified real problems affecting people locally and globally. This event moves that conversation into action by bringing people together to design, code and build practical technology and AI-enabled solutions.
The central question is simple:
What does humanity need next — and what can we build to help?
Hack for Humanity is a practical, team-based hackathon focused on using technology to create meaningful impact.
We are inviting students, working professionals, developers, researchers, designers, entrepreneurs and innovators to spend a full day building practical AI and technology solutions for real-world challenges affecting Zimbabwe and humanity at large.
Participants will work in teams to:
• Identify a meaningful real-world problem
• Define who is affected and why the problem matters
• Develop a focused solution idea
• Use coding, data, AI tools and APIs to build a working prototype
• Receive support from mentors
• Test and refine their solution
• Consider important risks, limitations and responsible AI safeguards
• Present their prototype during demos and judging
Challenge Areas
🌍 Health & Wellbeing
🌾 Agriculture, Food & Water Security
🎓 Education, Skills & Employability
💼 SMEs, Livelihoods & Economic Opportunity
🏛️ Public Services, Governance & Institutional Capacity
🌱 Climate, Energy & Community Resilience
🗣️ Culture, Language & Digital Inclusion
🛡️ AI Safety, Responsible AI & Information Integrity
🏭 Industry, Mining & Infrastructure
🧬 Biosecurity & Pandemic Preparedness
🐾 Animal Welfare & Sustainable Food Systems
⭐ Open Humanity Challenge — for other high-impact problems and ideas that do not fit neatly into the listed areas
These challenge areas are intentionally broad. Teams are encouraged to identify problems that are particularly relevant to Zimbabwe, while also considering challenges that affect humanity more broadly.
Event Details
📅 Saturday, 19 September 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM CAT (GMT+2)
📍 Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI). 31 Josiah Chinamano Avenue, Harare
What to Expect
You do not need to arrive with a finished solution, an existing team or even a complete idea.
Come ready to learn, collaborate, experiment, build and create impact.
The day will include:
• Registration, check-in and networking
• Problem pitches and team formation
• A rapid build kick-off session
• Structured hacking blocks
• Mentor support
• Demo-readiness checkpoints
• Project submission and technical verification
• Project demos and judging
• Awards, recognition and closing
The strongest projects may also have opportunities to be showcased within The AI Collective’s wider global community.
Registration
Spaces are limited to 60 participants and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please complete your registration early to secure your place.
We look forward to welcoming builders who are ready to use technology to solve meaningful problems in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Build what humanity needs next.
Who can attend?
Locations have different requirements for who can attend. This location is open to the following:
Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration, check-in and networking
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Opening ceremony and Hack for Humanity briefing
9:30 – 9:50 AM
Problem pitches and team formation
9:50 – 10:20 AM
From Problem to Prototype: rapid build kick-off
10:20 AM – 12:30 PM
Hacking Block I
12:30 – 1:00 PM
Lunch and mentor conversations
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Hacking Block II
2:30 – 2:45 PM
Demo-readiness checkpoint
2:45 – 3:40 PM
Final hacking sprint
3:40 – 4:00 PM
Project submission and technical verification
4:00 – 4:45 PM
Project demos and judging
4:45 – 5:00 PM
Judges’ deliberation and community reflection
5:00 – 5:20 PM
Awards and recognition
5:20 – 5:30 PM
Closing remarks, group photo and next steps
Additional Information
Join the official Hack for Humanity Harare participant WhatsApp group for event announcements, team formation, mentor support, schedule reminders, resources and submission updates.
Hosted by
Global non-profit AI community building the human layer for the AI era. Uniting 250K+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ chapters worldwide to navigate the rapid acceleration of technological progress.