Kyiv
February 2026
Offline
Livelihood Hackathons
Technologies that Empower Communities
Team registration is open until 15.02.26
3
hackathons
12
communities
6
winners
ІТ professionals
Startups
АActivists
Experts
About the Project
What is
‍a hackathon?
A hackathon is an intensive format of collaborative work focused on rapidly developing an idea and creating a prototype or MVP.
Livelihood Hackathons is a series of hands-on events where teams of IT professionals, activists, and community representatives work over three days to create digital solutions addressing the priority needs of 12 communities in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions.
The best solutions will receive funding for implementation
Participants will receive tasks from communities
Team building
Working with mentors
Testing ideas and presenting these solutions to the jury
Context and Project Goal
Even during the full-scale war, Ukraine’s IT sector continues to operate, support the economy, and create innovative solutions
At the same time, communities across the country face everyday challenges. Local authorities, internally displaced persons, returnees, and residents of host communities need accessible, clear, and user-friendly public services. This requires improved communication, trust-building, and updated service delivery approaches.
registration
project goal
The goal of the Livelihood Hackathons is to help communities identify modern technological tools to address their daily challenges and to foster collaboration between local authorities, the IT sector, and active residents.
The hackathons are held within the project «Livelihood+»: Economic Integration of Internally Displaced Persons and War-Affected People”, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank.

The events are implemented by SYNCHRO SPACE, an innovation hub for cities.
Prize Fund
Join, win, and bring your project to
life — make an impact on community development!
Registration
At each of the three hackathons, the jury will select two winning teams to receive financial support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for further development of their solutions (6 winners in total)
10 000 EUR
5 000 EUR
Who Is It For?
IT
IT teams and startups
Experts
Developers, designers, analysts, engineers
activists
Сivic activists and opinion leaders
Communities
Representatives of local authorities
Education
Experts in education, public services, and smart city solutions
Participation is free, subject to selection
registration is open until 15.02.26
Participating Communities
These communities have identified their key needs, which formed the basis for the challenges provided to teams
Kyiv region:
‍Makariv, Hostomel, Tetiiv, Bilohorodka
Chernihiv region:
Chernihiv, Kulykivka, Pryluky, Nizhyn
Sumy region:
‍Sumy, Konotop, Romny, Okhtyrka
Three Events — Three Themes. Choose Yours!
February 18–20
2026
CityHotel Residence,
Кyiv
Education, Information & Cultural Exchange
Solutions for accessible education, information services, online interaction, and cultural initiatives.
February 24–26
2026 року
CityHotel Residence,
Кyiv
Public Services, Including Services for IDPs
User-friendly digital tools for navigation, transparency, and interaction between authorities and residents.
March 4–6
2026 року
CityHotel Residence,
Кyiv
Urban Development & Smart Solutions for Communities
Solutions that help communities manage urban environments — from mobility and safety to digital maps, environmental monitoring, and spatial planning.
Participation Format
3
days of events
Inspiringexpert talks
Case study presentations
Mentoring sessions
Discussion
Introduction to community challenges
Teamwork
Prototype development
Pitch
preparation
Pitching solutions
to the jury
award
ceremony
What Is Provided
to Participants
Workspace
Technical equipment
Meals
Accommodation for participants from other cities
Ongoing mentor support
What Participants Gain
The opportunity to create a solution for a real community
Mentor support
Access to community data and context
Project pitching experience
A chance to receive funding for implementation and scaling in communities
REGISTRATION IS OPEN until 15.02.26
JOIN THE EVENT
Rules for Hackathon participants
Organizers
Initiator
IOM — International Organization
for Migration
The IOM Mission in Ukraine is a leading intergovernmental organization working in Ukraine since 1996 and part of the UN system. IOM provides comprehensive support to internally displaced persons and war-affected populations, combats human trafficking, and supports the development of state migration policy. Since the start of the full-scale war, IOM has provided humanitarian assistance to nearly three million people in Ukraine.
Contacts:
Official website IOM
Implementer
SYNCHRO SPACE
SYNCHRO SPACE is an urban innovation hub that helps cities find solutions to priority challenges through startups, interdisciplinary teams, and practical urban hackathons. Since 2018, the hub has worked with cities and communities in Ukraine and the EU, public authorities, and international partners, implementing modern Ukrainian and international urban development practices.
Contacts:
Official website SYNCHRO SPACE
info@hub-synchro.space
The hackathons are held with financial support from the KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the project “Livelihood+: Economic Integration of Internally Displaced Persons and War-Affected People.”
Contacts:
info@hub-synchro.space