Internship Terms of Reference: Hackathon 5 Implementation
Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums
1.0 About FINISH Mondial and San Tech Hackathon Series:
FINISH Mondial (FM) envisions a world where individuals have access to safely managed sanitation and financial inclusion. As a global initiative, FM has achieved significant milestones including constructing 1.8 million toilets, providing safely managed sanitation to 9 million people, and generating 20 million workdays. In pursuit of a world with financial inclusion and sustainable sanitation, FM organizes annual Sanitation and Hygiene Hackathons, fostering innovation and scalability.
2.0 Overview and Theme of Hackathon 5:
The fifth FINISH Mondial Hackathon (Hackathon 5) focuses on: “Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums.”
Hackathon 5 seeks to stimulate the development of practical, affordable and scalable sanitation solutions for densely populated urban slum communities. The hackathon will encourage participants to develop solutions that address the specific sanitation, hygiene, safety, accessibility and environmental challenges faced by residents of urban slums.
3.0 Purpose of the Internship:
The intern will support FINISH Mondial, the Technical Working Group and the Hackathon Committee in the planning, coordination, implementation, documentation and follow-up of Hackathon 5. The intern will provide day-to-day operational and communication support to ensure that potential participants are reached, participants receive timely information and support, submissions are properly managed and documented, and the overall hackathon process is effectively coordinated.
The internship will provide the intern with practical experience in innovation management, sanitation programming, communication, event coordination, stakeholder engagement and knowledge management.
4.0 Key Responsibilities
a) 24/7 Client Help Line Response:
i. Respond promptly to client inquiries through various channels, including email and other communication platforms.
ii. Provide clear and concise information regarding the San Tech hackathon, addressing queries related to submission guidelines, eligibility, and general information.
iii. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to enhance the overall experience for participants and sponsors, and partners.
b) Marketing and Advertising:
i. Disseminate the San Tech Hackathon advertisement/flyer and related information across diverse networks, targeting individuals, organizations, and companies interested in sustainable WASH practices.
ii. Utilize social media platforms, email newsletters, and other channels to maximize outreach.
iii. Develop and implement innovative strategies to enhance participation and engagement.
c) Acknowledgment of Submissions:
i. Acknowledge receipt of hackathon submissions promptly, ensuring participants feel valued and informed.
ii. Collaborate with the organizing team to verify submission completeness and compliance with guidelines.
d) Archival and Reporting:
i. Maintain a systematic archival system for all submissions, ensuring easy retrieval and reference.
ii. Generate regular reports summarizing key metrics, participant demographics, and other relevant information.
iii. Provide insights and recommendations for improvement based on the analysis of data collected.
f) Documentation and Knowledge Transfer:
i. Document best practices, challenges, and lessons learned during the implementation of the San Tech Hackathon 4.
ii. Facilitate knowledge transfer by creating comprehensive guides or manuals for future reference.
g) Evaluation Support:
i. Assist in the evaluation process, collaborating with the judging panel to ensure a fair and thorough assessment of submissions.
ii. Collect feedback from participants and judges to identify areas for improvement in future hackathons.
h) Any other duties assigned by the supervisor:
- in relation to providing general support to the project team as needed, contributing to the overall success of the San Tech Hackathon 5 initiative.
4.0 Duration:
The internship will commence on 1 st October 2026 and conclude on 31 st December 2026.
5.0 Application Deadline:
The application deadline is 26 th September 2026. Please submit your completed application to info@finishmondial.org by the deadline.
6.0 Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should:
a) Be currently enrolled in or have recently completed studies in WASH, Public Health, Environmental Health, Sanitation Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Information Technology, Communications, Development Studies, Agriculture, Innovation Management or a related field;
b) Demonstrate an interest in sanitation, public health, environmental sustainability, innovation and/or urban development;
c) Possess good written and verbal communication skills;
d) Have good organizational and coordination skills;
e) Be comfortable communicating with participants and stakeholders through email, social media and other digital platforms;
f) Have basic skills in data management, Microsoft Office/Google Workspace or similar tools;
g) Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams;
h) Be proactive, creative, dependable and able to work with limited supervision; and
i) Demonstrate willingness to learn about innovative sanitation solutions and urban sanitation challenges.