Deadline: September 22, 2025
Are you part of a civil society organization or an activist team working on digital innovation for civic participation? Are you based in one of the following countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine or Turkey? Applications are open for the Digital Democracy Initiative Hackathon 2025.
The CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) supports local digital innovations that expand civic space. However, many civil society organizations (CSOs) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia face challenges in developing and deploying such tools. This hackathon, implemented by the Metamorphosis Foundation and Civic Literacy Initiative, aims to:
- Address real-world challenges CSOs face in areas like fact-checking, digital security, and youth campaigning.
- Build the capacity of local actors to create and pilot their own solutions.
- Provide funding and mentorship to turn promising ideas into sustainable projects.
- Foster a regional network of civic tech innovators.
Thematic Areas
Applicants must propose a solution that addresses one of the following four thematic areas.
- Community Fact-Checking
- Secure Organizing Methods
- Digital Security
- Youth-Led Campaigning
Benefits
The five selected teams will receive a comprehensive support package to bring their ideas to life. This includes:
- A $8,000 sub-grant to fund the development and piloting of their solution.
- And for team members to participate in the in-person hackathon in Bangkok, Thailand (1-5 November 2025).
- Expert mentorship before, during, and after the hackathon to provide technical, design, and strategic guidance.
- An opportunity to join a vibrant regional network of changemakers working on similar issues.
Eligibility
- Open to civil society organizations and activist teams based in one of the seven target countries from the Eastern Europe & Central Asia region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Turkey.
- They welcome teams with diverse skills, including developers, designers, researchers, project managers, and advocates who are passionate about using technology to strengthen democracy.
Application
Applicants will be asked to fill the scenario pitch with their initial solution proposal but also a series of questions about their eligibility. Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be considered for review.
Click here to submit your proposal
For more information, visit Digital Democracy Initiative Hackathon.
