Digital Innovations for Human Rights

The Digital Human Rights Innovation Program enters the second round. It aims to create digital solutions for Human Rights Defenders to execute their work in better, more efficient and more secure ways. In order to implement these solutions, your motivated team can apply with a digital idea to win a share of the total amount of 60.000.000 UGX and qualify for the following 6-month Mentorship Programme.

Applications Closed
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You need more information?

Check out what information you need to collect first before applying to our Innovation Program. Check out the How-To-Apply-Guide.


Innovation Timeline 2.0

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Call for Ideas

If you have an idea to improve human rights work, your team (2 - 6 people) can apply until 18th April 2021 (11:59pm EAT) via the application form. Your idea can refer to one of the 6 Areas of Action or you can propose a new Area of Action.
*We highly encourage women or people belonging to minority groups to apply.

Evaluation of Applications

Applications will be evaluated independently by at least two persons according to the following criteria:

  • Problem-Solution-Fit: Does the idea address the needs of the target group?
  • Impact: How impactful is the idea?
  • Motivation: Is the team impact-driven and motivated?
  • Human Rights Work: Does the team bring experience from previous work in Human Rights?
  • Team's Skill-Set: Does the team have the (digital) skills to make it happen?
  • Degree of Innovation: How innovative is the idea in that context?
  • Technology: Is the idea technology-based or to be implemented with digital means?

Design Sprint

After the Call for Ideas 10 teams get pre-selected to join the Design Sprint. You will work together with trained coaches to develop, refine and redesign your idea, solution or approach.

Pitch Event

At the Pitch Event the 10 teams present their ideas, solutions and projects. Based on common selection criteria, the jury selects 4 winning teams that will receive part of the total award money and further support in terms of a 6-month Mentorship Program. The total award money of UGX 60.000.000 is going to be divided among the teams according to their needs.

Mentorship Program

In the following 6 months after the Pitch Event, experienced mentors will support the 4 winning teams according to their specific needs.

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6 Areas of Action

The 6 Areas of Action show the thematic areas in human rights work in Uganda in which there is a high demand for innovative digital solutions, approaches and ideas. Your idea doesn’t fit to one of the 6 Areas of Action? You can still apply for the Innovation Program and propose a new Area of Action within the application form.

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Are you working on the challenge of access to technology, stable networks and the Internet in the most remote regions of Uganda? Do you want to ensure that women or people belonging to minority groups are equally able to live digital participation? If your idea, solution or approach revolves around Digital Inclusion, this is your Area of Action.

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Do you look at systems from the meta-level and want to develop cross-cutting solutions that contribute to more effective human rights work? Have you found an approach on how to develop sustainable training opportunities and financing models? Digital ideas, solutions and approaches aimed at Capacity Building fall within this Area of Action.

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Are you working on a digital solution to streamline reporting structures of human rights violations? Or do you have an idea or approach that will enable Human Rights Defenders to exercise their right of assembly and association without hesitation? Everything around Safety, Security and Privacy, on- and offline falls into this Area of Action.

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Are you taking up the challenge of creating digital solutions for e.g. better networking and more effective communication between Human Rights Defenders? Or did you find an innovative and easy way for Human Rights Defenders to disseminate information on? This Area of Action is all about Knowledge Sharing & Collaborative Learning among Human Rights Defenders.

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Are you taking up a challenge that affects the physical and mental health of Human Rights Defenders? A digital solution to improve the physical protection of Human Rights Defenders at demonstrations or a digital socio-psychological support service for Human Rights Defenders are only two ideas that could fall into this category. What is your idea?

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Are you working on a solution that will make it easier for Human Rights Defenders to disseminate information through traditional media channels? Or do you already have an idea or approach to preserve the freedom of expression of bloggers in social media? If you want to overcome challenges regarding Media On/Offline, this is your Area of Action.

Meet the winning teams of the first round!

In November and December 2020, over 140 teams applied to the Digital Human Rights Innovation Program 1.0 with ideas to improve human rights work in Uganda. The 10 most promising teams were selected to further develop their solution in a 4-week design sprint. With the help of the Design Thinking Methodology, the 9 Principles for Digital Development, e.g. "Design with the User" and the coaching support provided by StartHub Africa, the teams managed to make significant progress in a very short time. On Saturday 27.03.2021, it was time for the 10 teams to take the stage to present their ideas to a critical jury and audience, including virtually via livestream.

At the end of the day, only 4 teams could receive further support in the form of funding and a 6-month mentorship program. Among the lucky winners were the teams Kuchu Care, Girl Power Connect, Safe Bangles and iRoom.

Kuchu Care

iRoom

Girl Power Connect

SafeBangles

Meet the winning teams of the second round!

In the second round of the innovation program Disability Innovations Uganda, Awesome Mind Speaks, Naguru Youth Health Network and The DeBunk Team won a share of the grant and the 6 month mentorship program to further work on their ideas. Check them out through the short clips:

Disability Innovations Uganda

Awesome Mind Speaks

Naguru Youth Health Network

The DeBunk Team

Questions?

Do you have any questions, suggestions or need further information about the Innovation Program?
Please feel free to send us an e-mail: innovationprogram@dhrlab.org.