Introduction

Africa has the largest free trade area on earth. Most Kenyans have never heard of it. The MATA Youth Hackathon 2026 is a national online competition challenging Kenyan youth to change that by designing real communication tools that translate AfCFTA from policy into public understanding, trust, and market action. Three winning teams will have their solutions built into actual government communication systems, funded by the Communication Authority of Kenya. This is not a poster competition. It is a design lab for the future of African trade communication.

 

Tools and Technologiesnljred

No specific tools are required. Teams may use any design, development, or communication tool available to them. Suggested starting points depending on your track:

  • Canva or Adobe Express — for visual communication design
  • Google Sites or Carrd — for simple digital guides
  • WhatsApp Business API resources — for community-scale communication tools
  • Figma — for interactive prototypes
  • Any local language translation tools or community translators

Solutions do not need to be technically complex. A well-designed WhatsApp information flow that works is stronger than a half-built app.

Inspiration

Ask yourself: if your grandmother ran a small business and wanted to sell to a buyer in Uganda, what would she need to know  and who would tell her? That is the gap you are designing for. The winning solutions from this hackathon will not sit in a report. They will be deployed inside government systems and used by real people. Design for that person, not for the judges.

Contact Us & Support Channels

  • General enquiries: hackathon@mataafrica.com
  • Technical support (Devpost issues): support@mataafrica.com
  • WhatsApp support group: [link to be added at launch]
  • County PRO Officers are also available as local points of contact — find yours at mataafrica.com/counties

 

 

  • AfCFTA official overview — au-afcfta.org
  • Kenya Trade Portal — tradenet.go.ke
  • Communication Authority of Kenya — ca.go.ke
  • MATA Africa — mataafrica.com
  • EAC Customs information — eac.int