Continuing our exploration of the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Risk Appetite Hackathon, this third article focuses on participant feedback from the event and how these insights will shape our vision for a future Niriqatiginnga hackathon. The valuable lessons learned provide a foundation for planning an engaging and impactful event.

We really like this report for a number of reasons: The methodologies employed in GAC’s Risk Appetite Hackathon totally align with the 2024-2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Departmental Plan, which encourages and emphasizes the importance of collaborative ideation sessions and hackathon events. This report shows how these kinds of hackathon initiatives can unite stakeholders from diverse sectors to explore innovative solutions to shared challenges. In our case, leveraging emerging technologies like intelligent automation and AI to support food sector entrepreneurship and collaborative food security research.

There’s also the international climate change education. regional innovation and knowledge exchange aspects too. These kinds of hackathon events also foster environments of co-design and inclusive participation. Through hackathons, Government of Canada departments like Global Affairs Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are paving the way for effective problem-solving that drives positive change across the agricultural and environmental landscapes, while encouraging international and circumpolar knowledge exchange.

What Participants Shared: Feedback from over 350 participants revealed a strong desire for more inclusive and flexible approaches to international assistance. Many emphasized the need for improved communication, trust-building, and greater responsiveness from funding bodies in order to enhance collaboration with local partners.

• Confidence in Transformation: When asked about the potential benefits of GAC’s grants and contributions (G&Cs) transformation, 68% of respondents expressed confidence in the initiative, indicating high expectations for meaningful change in the sector.
• Call for Local Engagement: Participants underscored the importance of localization and decolonization efforts within international assistance. Many advocated for funding structures that prioritize locally led projects, ensuring that community needs and perspectives are integral to the planning process.

This report was really helpful. The insights gathered from the hackathon participants resonate profoundly with our own goals for the Niriqatiginnga project. As we aim to host a hackathon, we are inspired by the demand for collaborative platforms where local voices can be heard and integrated into decision-making processes, particularly in addressing climate change and food security in Arctic and northern regions.

Lessons to Shape Our Future Plans:

• Emphasizing Co-Design: Much like GAC’s emphasis on co-design methodologies, we plan to implement participatory approaches that engage community stakeholders at every stage of our hackathon planning.
• Creating Adaptive Structures: Participants highlighted the need for flexible funding mechanisms; similarly, we aim to build our event around adaptable programming that responds to the real-time feedback and needs of our attendees. This is a really important area that we are focusing on with our project too.

The lessons drawn from GAC’s Risk Appetite Hackathon Report will be instrumental in shaping Niriqatiginnga’s future efforts. We are committed to cultivating an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and actionable solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by the communities we serve.

This summer has been incredibly enriching for our team as we explored learning about Intellectual Property Protection, with a particular focus on Indigenous Cultural Expressions (ICE). We’ve gained valuable insights into how IP can serve as a tool for safeguarding the unique cultural heritage of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Our discussions have been thought-provoking, shedding light on the nuances and challenges that arise when traditional knowledge intersects with modern legal frameworks.

As well, we’re excited to explore the hackathon model as a potential avenue to further our learning and application of IP principles and for learning about ICEs. The dynamic and collaborative nature of hackathons aligns perfectly with our approach to innovation and problem-solving. We’re eager to see how this model can help us build on the foundation we’ve laid this summer, empowering our team to develop creative solutions that honor and protect Indigenous Cultural Expressions.

As we build on this insightful foundation, stay tuned for further updates on our journey toward hosting a transformative hackathon that aligns with the voices and visions of our partners.

Click here to read the full Risk Appetite Hackathon Report. Click here to read the 2024-2025 AAFC Departmental Plan.

About our summer programming

Youth, Arts and Media Team summer activities are supported with funding and support from a number of partners and collaborators, including: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. We also acknowledge support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program, Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada and the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Program. Thank you for believing in us and supporting the Youth, Arts and Media Team.