(Originally published on 07/11/2017)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China announced today that they will team up with iamtheCODE to launch a hackathon in Beijing, China, to ‘decode’ the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP China will host a Hackathon in Beijing in cooperation with iamtheCode in the weekend from August 26^th to 27^th in Beijing. UNDP together with IamtheCODE will convene a multi-stakeholders to ‘decode’ the SDGs, the event will be aligned with UNDP China’s premier ‘Geek for Good’ series to harness the full innovative potential the technology industry in China has to offer.

The Hackathon will bring together geeks, do-gooders and innovators with different skill sets ranging from coding, app-building and data analysis to design solutions to challenges facing achievement of the SDGs. The best ideas will be developed and supported through local incubation programmes, mentoring, local funding and further co-creation of solutions.

Engaging women and girls on the SDGs through technology and innovation enables a platform for data sharing, fostering a better understanding of the role women and girls will play in the data revolution,in the end as they say in China “women and girls are holding up half of the sky”. This Hackathon will act as a kickstarter for building that capacity, and aims to ensure greater inclusivity by aiming for 50% by women at the event.

Innovative individuals are urgently needed to turn the bold and ambitious SDGs into real action, and UNDP will contribute its capacity for bringing together creative minds to incubate solutions that open up new paths for sustainable development.

iamtheCODE is the first African-led global movement to mobilise government, private sector, and investors to advance STEAMED (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, and Design) Education. Its Goal is to mobilise governments, investors, civil society and the private sector to invest in future technologies that can drive sustainable development.

Through working with initiatives such as the iamtheCode, UNDP hopes to mobilize technology to play a crucial role in advancing the SDGs, driving development that realises greater prosperity and inclusivity, through 2030 and beyond.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Background

In September 2015, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of China, attended the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit and joined 193 other leaders in endorsing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, providing guidance and plan to national development of member states and international development cooperation in the next 15 years.

This plan includes 17 Goals that serve as an urgent guiding master plan to tackle the world’s greatest challenges and ensure that no one is left behind. Innovative individuals are urgently needed to join together with countries and partners to turn the bold and ambitious global plans into real action. See the 17 SDGs here