Kigali, 03 April 2024: The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), in collaboration with the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), launched an Inter-Universities Modelling Hackathon aimed at revolutionizing water resources management approaches. 

This groundbreaking event, marked the beginning of a journey to bring together innovative young minds from various universities in Rwanda, converging their talents in undergraduate and postgraduate programs related to water resources, natural resources management, urban planning, and geography, other related field to tackle real-world challenges.

Dr. Emmanuel Rukundo, Director of RWB, expressed high hopes for the event, stating, “We have great expectations from the innovative solutions and young talents that will be showcased during this hackathon. It is essential for us to harness the innovative potential of our youth to address pressing issues in water management.”

“We also extend our gratitude to our partner, ARCOS, for their invaluable collaboration and support in this initiative.” He added

The launch event provided a platform to introduce the Inter-Universities Modelling Hackathon, which will span over a period of four months and will encourage participants to develop data-driven solutions that address critical aspects of water resources conservation and sustainability.

The objectives of the event are multifaceted, aiming to promote sustainable water resources management, build capacity for talented youth, foster innovation for resilience, and promote data-driven decision-making.

Through this collaborative effort, RWB and ARCOS aim to foster innovative solutions towards resilience, and data-driven decision-making in water resources management together with biodiversity preservation practices, resilience to climate change and raise awareness through education.  

The Inter-Universities Modelling Hackathon represents a significant step forward in Rwanda’s efforts towards achieving sustainable water resources management practices.