Samsung & the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Successfully Collaborated On A Master Class & Hackathon

Samsung Electronics recently celebrated a successful collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), bringing together more than 100 young African innovators from various parts of the continent who participated in a co-created Mobile Circularity Hackathon that took place in Accra, Ghana from 23 – 25 June 2026.

Lefa Makgato, CSR Manager for Samsung South Africa, was one of the judges at the Hackathon, while Andries Venter, Africa Customer Service Network and Operations Lead – played a crucial role in delivering the masterclass and contributed to the judging process. This event took place during the 6^th African Youth SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Summit where a group of enthusiastic young African innovators came together to tackle mobile e-waste, with the ultimate goal of developing practical solutions for repairing, reusing and recycling discarded mobile phones.

During this Mobile Circularity Hackathon, Samsung experts, including Venter, guided the selected group of young African innovators through the lifecycle of a mobile device, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. The Mobile Circularity Hackathon forms part of Samsung’s long-term global partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), established in 2019 and set to continue through to 2030.

The Hackathon also aligns with Samsung’s Environmental Strategy, in which the Circular Economy is a key pillar. Through this strategy, Samsung is committed to addressing mobile e-waste, promoting sustainable product design and advancing resource circularity. Targeting mainly young African innovators, tech entrepreneurs and university students aged 20 – 35; the participating Hackathon teams collaborated using real community data to develop circular economy solutions. Following the event, the UNDP Ghana and Samsung committed to providing continued support to the winning teams, helping them scale their concepts into viable businesses.

The Mobile Circularity Hackathon aims to transform Africa’s growing mobile e-waste challenge into a significant socio-economic and environmental opportunity. An estimated 10 billion dormant or unused mobile phones are currently stored away worldwide¹, locking up valuable raw materials and contributing to the growing challenge of electronic waste¹. Rather than viewing discarded mobile devices solely as environmental hazards – this initiative repositions them as valuable resources that can drive economic growth, promote resource circularity and support environmental sustainability.

Participants at the 6th African Youth SDGs Summit in Accra, Ghana

The programme also recognises the substantial economic potential of the circular economy. The project’s participating beneficiaries were drawn from various parts of the African continent, specifically leveraging the UNDP’s Regional University Innovation Pods (UniPods) Network and the attendee base of the African Youth SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Summit, which is Africa’s largest youth forum on sustainable development.

While applications were continent-wide, key representations and target hubs included:

• West Africa: Ghana (as the host nation) and Sierra Leone
• East Africa: Innovators linked to regional tech hubs and academic networks.
• Southern Africa: Youth networks and summit delegates travelling from countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe.

At the end of the Hackathon, a total of 127 young finalists were selected and split into 20 teams that received a direct masterclass training and mentorship from Samsung. The top-performing teams also gained seed validation and tracking support through the UNDP timbuktoo initiative.

The technical support from UNDP through the UNDP UniPod initiative was there to ensure that the three winning ideas that were selected, were able to itinerate and scale projects in their respective countries. And, the winning teams included the following:

1. Diamond Winners: E-waste Marshall. The team proposed a concept to bridge Information and Communications Technology (ICT) e-waste from corporate institutions in Ghana to local and international recyclers – helping to strengthen compliance with Ghana’s Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act (Act 917). By combining responsible e-waste collection with public awareness, the solution aims to advance a more sustainable and circular approach to electronic waste management. Team members: Janice Ama Dede Adjei (Ghana), Isaac Selasi Ahadzi (Ghana), John Howard Wealth (Ghana), Blessing Kukwang Dayam (Ghana), Ernest Emekor Duho (Ghana), Patrice Cossi (Benin), Edna Beverla (Ghana).

2. Gold Winners: E-cycle Connect. The team proposed a digital marketplace designed to connect consumers, e-waste collectors, and certified recyclers to make e-waste management more accessible, transparent and responsible. Their concept would enable consumers to schedule pick-ups or locate nearby drop-off points, while creating fairer market access for collectors through direct connections with certified recyclers. By strengthening the e-waste value chain, the solution aims to support livelihoods and advance Africa’s mobile circular economy. Team members: Jean-Marie Akiwele Nabare (Ghana), ⁠Nana Nyama Danso (Ghana), Anuforo Goodluck Eziokwu (Nigeria), ⁠⁠Rabiatu Yakubu (Ghana), ⁠Ayittah Lawrence Amanor (Ghana), ⁠⁠Kackah Ushahemba Alex (Nigeria), Simon M Kiambati (Kenya).

3. Silver Winners: Nkabom Innovators. The team proposed a concept to intercept domestic electronic waste within local communities through an incentivised, low-tech collection model. The solution aims to transform recovered materials into commercial products while repurposing power components to support localised clean-energy solutions, advancing a more circular approach to e-waste management. Team members: Ophelia Adubofour (Ghana), ⁠Wendy Akushika Dogbegah (Ghana), Noah Johnson Ananga (Ghana), ⁠Bella Cisse (Mali), ⁠⁠Seidu Inusah Jaminja (Ghana).

This strategic partnership between Samsung and the UNDP has now evolved to include a focus on community-led experimentation, transitioning from primarily global awareness and advocacy toward locally rooted solutions. Through this approach, the collaboration supports youth innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of solutions that contribute to sustainable development.

Samsung brings technological expertise, engineering capabilities, commercial insights, funding and technical mentorship to the partnership. The UNDP – on the other hand – provides valuable community data and a development framework, including  access to its network of UniPods – a group of academic technology incubators operating across multiple African countries.

Both partners recognise youth education as an important element of sustainable development. Through the partnership, young innovators gain access to knowledge, skills development and mentorship, while also having opportunities to participate in conversations and decision-making on global sustainability issues. For more information on the impact of this initiative, see link: https://www.undp.org/blog/there-more-gold-tonne-phones-tonne-gold-ore

¹ Source: Steven Moore, Head of Climate Action at the GSMA – “Millions of Mobiles Poised for Second Lives this Christmas as a Third of Consumers ‘Recycle’, 12 Phones” Within the Family, December 2024 – https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/press-release/millions-of-mobiles-poised-for-second-lives-this-christmas-as-a-third-of-consumers-recycle-phones-within-the-family/, accessed: 14 July 2026.