IOM Holds First Hackathon to Drive Innovative Solutions

A 4-day global hackathon was held from 8 to 11 May this year by IOM Greece mission in collaboration with the Department of Information Communications and Technology.

By applying creative problem solving and ideation methodologies, IOM staff developed innovative solutions that promote migrant employability and enhance institutional processes. This was the result of IOM’s first-ever global Hackathon held in Athens, Greece, that saw the on-site and virtual participation of over 60 IOM staff representing 10 missions. A hackathon is a collaborative event that brings different people together to find solutions to a problem.

The Hackathon started with a training on the Power Platform, led by Microsoft and NTT Data, to establish a strong technical foundation among the participants. The in-person hackers then collaborated with colleagues of the IOM Greece HELIOS project to design digital solutions for the provision of employability support to beneficiaries. The Hellenic Integration Support for Beneficiaries of International Protection and Temporary Protection (HELIOS) is a project that aims to promote the integration of beneficiaries of international and temporary protection into the Greek society. At the same time, the virtual hackers worked together to develop solutions that enhance the efficiency of various internal processes, such as in publication.

Together, the Hackathon participants explored different ways that technology can be utilized to enhance the delivery of IOM services to its beneficiaries. In just four days, they were able to propose nine different functioning solutions.

This hugely successful event demonstrated how digital tools and innovative thinking can drive impactful solutions to address complex humanitarian and development challenges.