Hackathon 5: Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums
Are you an innovator, entrepreneur, researcher, student, engineer, sanitation professional or changemaker with an idea that could transform sanitation in urban slums?
FINISH Mondial invites you to Hackathon 5: Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums.
This year’s hackathon challenges innovators to develop practical, affordable and scalable sanitation solutions for densely populated urban communities — solutions that improve hygiene, safety and accessibility while creating opportunities to turn waste into valuable resources.
FINISH Mondial invites you to Hackathon 5: Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums.
What we are looking for
We are looking for innovative solutions that address one or more of the following areas
- Low-cost and scalable solutions – Affordable approaches that can be adapted and replicated in densely populated urban settings.
- Waste-to-resource solutions – Technologies and approaches that transform human waste into valuable resources such as energy or fertiliser.
- Hygiene, safety and accessibility – Solutions that improve sanitation access, hygiene and safety, particularly for women, children, older people and other vulnerable groups.
- Sustainable, non-container-based solutions – Integrated sanitation and waste-management approaches that can work sustainably in urban slum settings.
Why join
By participating in Hackathon 5, you will have the opportunity to
- Win prizes and gain recognition for your innovation.
- Develop and showcase a practical solution to a pressing urban sanitation challenge.
- Contribute to more inclusive and sustainable sanitation for underserved urban communities.
- Connect and collaborate with experts, organisations and other innovators working in sanitation and related fields.
- Take your idea further – the winning innovation will have the opportunity to be implemented in one of the FINISH Mondial countries.
Key dates
Mark your agenda
- Registration opens: 23 October 2026
- Hackathon kick-off: 23 October 2026
- Project submission deadline: 23 November 2026
- Judging and evaluation: 24 November – 8 December 2026
- Winners announced: 10 December 2026
Prizes
The winning innovation will also have the opportunity to be implemented in one of the FINISH Mondial countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda.
Key Dates
Jury Panel
A panel of experts will evaluate your innovative solutions. Submissions will be evaluated based on criteria of innovation, impact, feasibility, scalability, sustainability, and community engagement.
Support will be available 24/7 to assist participants and answer questions.
Partners and Sponsors
Key partners under hackathon 5 include: FINISH Mondial, FINISH Mondial Foundation and SATO (part of Lixil)
In addition, the Technical working group continues to solicit and invite relevant organizations, Government agencies, NGOs, and businesses to support and sponsor this hackathon to drive innovation and positive change. The list of partners and sponsors may thus increase.
Apply Today: Online Application form
Contact us: finishmondial@waste.nl | www.finishmondial.org
References, useful links
- Winners & event recording from 1st FINISH Mondial Technical Sanitation Contest (2020)
- Top 8 Finalists from 1st FINISH Mondial Technical Sanitation Contest (2020)
- SanTech Hackathon Live Event! | FINISH-Mondial was live | Facebook (2021)
- Winners of 2nd SanTech Hackathon by FINISH Mondial
- Winners of 3rd SanTech Hackathon by FINISH Mondial
- Winners of 4th SanTech Hackathon by FINISH Mondial
Follow us on social media for Updates!
facebook.com/FINISHMondial | linkedin.com/showcase/finish-mondial/
