The World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge 2026 | Fully Funded

Applications are now open for the 2026 World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge. Artificial intelligence is changing what is possible in development. But most AI tools have been built for a world with reliable connectivity, a smartphone in hand, and a user already fluent in how to interact with AI. The Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge is an open call to young innovators worldwide to build AI solutions that work in the real conditions facing developing economies, where the people with the most to gain are the furthest from the tools being built.

What Is Small AI?

Small AI is a design approach for AI development that promotes targeted, use-case-driven solutions. While general-purpose large language models require extensive data-center infrastructure and struggle to scale in constrained environments, small AI focuses on leveraging specific capabilities to solve a single, well-defined problem by leveraging accessible devices: basic phones, sensors, or microcontrollers running models locally.

Competition Details

Organized by the World Bank Group’s Digital and AI Vice Presidency, in collaboration with the Youth Summit, Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC), Information and Technology Solutions (ITS), and managed by Hack-Nation, this hackathon invites young innovators to spend one weekend building a working small AI solution to a real development challenge through a two-day competition taking place on 3–4 October 2026.

How it runs

Promotion across the summer → competition weekend in early October including a video submission → expert evaluation → Bank panel judging → winner showcases in Seoul.

Application Requirements

• To enter the competition, eligible applicants must first register for the Hackathon through the official Hack-Nation registration page.
• Registered participants will then develop and submit their competition entry during the Hackathon in accordance with the instructions, deadlines, and technical requirements provided on the Hack-Nation platform.
• Hack-Nation will evaluate the eligible entries and submit a shortlist to the World Bank Group, which will serve as the final judging authority and select the winners.
• Applicants will choose one sector challenge — in health, agriculture, or tourism — and build a solution that demonstrates a clear value add in a constrained environment.

Applicants are invited to reflect candidly: What does localizing AI development mean for you?

Eligibility Requirements

• The competition is open to applicants aged 18 to 35, in line with the UN definition of youth, across the World Bank member countries. Applicants from emerging economies are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applications may be submitted either by an individual or by a team of up to 4 members.
• Applications to participate and hack-a-thon submissions must be all submitted in English. Each team member must register individually, satisfy all eligibility requirements, and be identified as part of the same team before the registration deadline.
• An individual may participate in only one competition entry.

Benefits

• Three winners will be selected from the entries generated at the hack-a-thon, one from each of the categories – Agriculture, Health, and Tourism.  The winners will be invited to Seoul, South Korea to present at the Global AI and Digital Summit 2026, co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the Government of Korea from 19 to 22 October 2026.
• Three winners (one each from Agriculture, Health, Tourism) will be featured in Seoul in relevant sessions (i.e. (1) AI for People – Heath and Education (2) How Open Network and AI are Rewriting the Rules for Small Business in Agriculture and Tourism) on October 21, 2026.
•  Travel expenses will be covered in full subject to reasonable travel costs, accommodation, and designated event-related expenses, as determined by the Organizers in accordance with internal logistics guidelines.

Application Timeline: