Youth take part in the WakaWell Hackathon to design digital solutions for safe and informed migration./PHOTO: IOM/Samuel Odhiambo Otieno
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched the first-ever WakaWell Youth Hackathon, a Pan-African initiative designed to harness the creativity of young innovators in developing digital solutions that help youth make safe and informed migration decisions.
The two-day event brought together 20 participants from eight African countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, selected from a pool of more than 200 applicants.
Working alongside IOM mentors, these young innovators co-designed Artificial Intelligence-powered travel buddies to enhance the WakaWell platform, an online hub offering verified migration guidance for young Africans seeking opportunities to study, work, or pursue sports across the continent.
Youth at the Heart of Migration Solutions
“Migration is the defining reality of our time, especially for young people,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations.
“IOM supports the WakaWell hackathon because it creates space for young people to innovate, and we know that the digital tools they produce are vital for making migration policies smarter and more relevant to the solutions they need.”
Her remarks reflect a growing recognition that migration is not only about movement but also about opportunity and risk.
With Africa’s youth population projected to double by 2050, digital solutions like WakaWell are increasingly important in helping young people make informed choices about education, work, and mobility.
Building on a Trusted Platform
Since its launch five years ago, the WakaWell platform has become a trusted resource for youth preparing their migration journeys.
It provides practical, reliable information on visa processes, legal migration pathways, and the realities of living abroad.
In 2024 alone, more than 62,000 people accessed WakaWell, demonstrating its relevance as a digital companion for young Africans.
The platform currently covers eight countries in West and North Africa, and expansion into East Africa is planned this year, extending its reach to 11 countries.
By integrating tools developed during the hackathon, WakaWell will strengthen its role as an accessible and dynamic guide, bridging the information gap that often leaves young people vulnerable to misinformation or unsafe migration choices.
A Pan-African Approach to Innovation
“This hackathon proved the power of a Pan-African approach,” said Ciku Kimeria, Kenyan author and journalist, who served as a jury member.
“Migration can be a win-win, connecting countries that need talent with young Africans seeking work and education opportunities.”
The hackathon also highlighted the importance of collaboration between youth, technology experts, and international partners.
With mentorship from IOM staff and feedback from judges, participants worked in teams to develop AI-powered tools that could interact with users in real time, answer migration-related questions, and provide tailored guidance.
Partnerships for Safer Mobility
The WakaWell Youth Hackathon is part of IOM’s broader strategy to place youth at the center of migration governance and innovation.
It was supported under the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) Programme, a partnership between IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
By investing in digital innovation and youth leadership, IOM is working to ensure that migration can be approached not as a risk to be avoided, but as an opportunity to be managed safely and productively.
Looking Ahead
The hackathon is expected to become a recurring feature of the WakaWell initiative, creating more opportunities for young Africans to co-design solutions that address the realities of mobility.
For IOM, it is also a way of ensuring that digital platforms remain relevant to the fast-changing needs of youth across the continent.
As the WakaWell platform expands into new regions, the innovations developed during the hackathon will strengthen its role as a trusted, youth-centered digital guide to safe migration.
By giving young people the tools to shape their own futures, the WakaWell Youth Hackathon underscores the potential of African innovation to transform how migration is understood, managed, and experienced.
