Locations55 students from GCIT participated in the 72-hour hackathon to develop a legal aid data management system
Leveraging digital talent to enhance access to justice
August 11, 2024
Students of GCIT during the first day of the three-day hackathon.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
Thimphu, 11 August 2024 – In an initiative to improve access to justice for all through digital solutions, the Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology (GCIT), the GovTech Agency, the Legal Aid Center, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bhutan hosted a 72-hour hackathon. The goal was to crowdsource a prototype for an advanced Legal Aid Data Management System (LADMS) that not only streamlines the administration of justice but also protects sensitive information and helps address challenges posed by manual case management, which includes delays, data loss risks, and limited accessibility, particularly for indigent persons.
Students of GCIT, GovTech Agency, Legal Aid Centre and UNDP at the launch of the Hackathon
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
The hackathon ran from August 9 to 11 and saw 55 students, grouped into 11 teams, from GCIT, to take part in this digital innovation challenge.
Dorji Thogmey, team lead of Zero Pixel pitching their prototype to the judges virtually.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
The Zero Pixel team, led by final-year student Dorji Thogmey, won the hackathon. Dorji reflected on the experience, saying, "This hackathon was more than just a competition; it was a journey of learning, innovation, and teamwork. Our challenge was to create a system that not only manages data efficiently but also safeguards its privacy and security. It was tough—we stayed up late, sometimes until 7 a.m. But what kept us going was knowing that our work could truly make a difference."
Participants received valuable legal advice to enhance their prototype from the professors and students of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
What made this hackathon unique was the collaboration with the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law students and the Legal Aid Centre, which added a different dimension to the experience. Unlike other hackathons, the teams received continuous support and guidance throughout the event from seasoned mentors and legal support.
A total of 11 teams pitched their prototype to the judges virtually.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
Zero Pixel showcased a solid, modular system architecture to optimize system performance and availability. Their system features functions for registration, tracking, and delivering decision information, all with real-time data capabilities and an easy-to-use interface. What made their prototype stand out was its potential to simplify and speed up the legal aid process, making it more accessible for those who need it the most.
Tshering Pem, the Deputy Chief Legal Officer at Bhutan National Legal Insitute.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
“To ensure access to justice for everyone, we need a strong system that makes legal aid services more accessible, people-centered, and efficient. Without a centralized data management system, it's been challenging to accurately assess our services and make informed decisions. This hackathon is a great opportunity to bring innovative ideas and technical skills together to create a more organized, effective, and purposeful legal aid system,” said Tshering Pem, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Bhutan National Legal Institute.
The students of GCIT during the final day of the Hackathon.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
The hackathon is the first in a series of initiatives that will be carried out as a part of a wider collaboration between GCIT and UNDP established through an MoU aimed at advancing public sector innovation by digitalization and fostering tech-entrepreneurship.
Khurshid Alam, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bhutan during the launch of the hackathon
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
“This hackathon is a vital part of our joint effort with GCIT to improve access to justice for the vulnerable groups in Bhutan,” said Khurshid Alam, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP. “By tapping into the creativity of young minds, we aim to create a system that not only boosts the efficiency of legal aid services but also upholds transparency and accountability, in line with UNDP’s principle of ‘Leave No One Behind. With digital becoming the mainstream, our collaboration with GCIT aims to build a robust ecosystem that supports tech entrepreneurship.”
Team Zero Pixel with Audrey Low, the President of Gyalpozhing College of Information and Technology.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
Audrey Low, President of Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology said, "This specially curated Hackathon offers our students to design and develop a Legal Aid Data Management System in Bhutan for justice and technology equity. Creating this software will not only improve the judicial process but also inspire this generation of students to be innovators, inventors and potentially start-up influencers for the nation.”
The 55 students who participated in the 72-hour hackathon.
UNDP Bhutan / Karma Jamtsho
The Legal Aid Center, GCIT, and UNDP will continue to work with the winning team, Unicorn-coders, who has been awarded $5,000 to refine and test their prototype with real-time users. Four runner-up teams received $1,000 each, and feasible features from them will be incorporated in the final system.
For more information, please contact: Mr. Karma Jamtsho, Programme Communications and Advocacy Analyst, UNDP Bhutan | Email: karma.jamtsho1@unpd.org