A vision: to develop AI rooted in local realities

At a time when artificial intelligence models are still predominantly developed in the world’s major technology hubs, Abdellahi El Moustapha holds a firm conviction: AI innovation must also emerge from the very regions facing the challenges it seeks to resolve.

The official NAIB 2026 report highlights that Mauritania faces major challenges in digital transformation, despite its skilled young workforce and strong technological potential.

The aim of the hackathon was therefore clear:

• to uncover Mauritanian AI talent;
• to create practical products addressing local issues;
• to connect African developers with international institutions and investors;
• to demonstrate that Africa can produce its own high-impact technological innovations.

An approach deeply aligned with aivancity’s philosophy: to train professionals capable of bridging technology, societal impact and an understanding of local contexts.

A day of intensive development focused on projects with real-world impact

For a whole day, 25 teams worked in real time on AI solutions addressing concrete societal challenges.

Far from theoretical demonstrations, the projects developed tackled everyday issues head-on:

• financial inclusion;
• access to healthcare;
• translation of local dialects;
• public governance;
• the environment;
• child protection;
• access to administrative services.

The teams were supported by mentors from organisations including Google and UNICEF Mauritania, combining technical support, product vision and entrepreneurial structuring.

This dual technological and entrepreneurial approach was a defining feature of the event. The report highlights that the projects were not merely developed, but developed with a specific objective and a focus on impact.

AI solutions designed for African contexts

Among the most notable projects is Sawaqli AI, winner of the AI & Machine Learning category.

The platform addresses a very specific problem: enabling small Mauritanian retailers to easily generate marketing content without needing to master complex Western AI tools.

Using just a few words in Arabic or French, the tool automatically generates content tailored to local customs, cultural festivals and the social media platforms used in the country.

Another standout project is Hassaniya GPT, a conversational AI designed for Mauritanian dialects and financial inclusion.

The system enables users with limited literacy to interact vocally with banking services in their mother tongue: Hassaniya, Pulaar, Soninke or Wolof. This is a major innovation in a context where a large proportion of the population has neither an advanced smartphone nor stable internet access.

Other projects also attracted attention:

• NurAI, a platform for the early detection of child malnutrition using computer vision;
• N-ID, a system for harmonising Mauritanian administrative identities using AI;
• Khidmaty Voice, a voice assistant providing access to administrative procedures via a simple phone call;
• Miaadi, a smart hospital system integrating AI-powered triage and centralised medical management.

An event supported by national and international institutions

NAIB 2026 also stood out for the level of institutional recognition it received.

The event received support from:

• Google;
• UNICEF Mauritania;
• the Mauritanian Ministry of Digital Transformation;
• the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development;
• the National Bank of Mauritania;
• several international partners and US investors.

Three major panel discussions marked the day:

• the future of AI deployment in Mauritania;
• the creation of AI products in emerging markets;
• the challenges of including young women in careers in artificial intelligence.

The hackathon was also widely covered by Mauritanian national media and the country’s official broadcasters, confirming the initiative’s national reach.

All projects incubated by the United Nations

One of the most notable outcomes of the event was the post-hackathon phase.

All 25 projects developed during NAIB 2026 were accepted into the UNIPOD incubation programme supported by the United Nations.

Several companies in attendance also offered job opportunities directly to some participants following the final demonstrations.

As for Sawaqli AI, the project has already become an active start-up with its first local clients just a few days after the hackathon.

A track record that has already attracted international attention

Beyond NAIB, Abdellahi El Moustapha has already made a name for himself in several international technology competitions.

The official report notes in particular that he:

• won the Google Developer Group Paris Hackathon 2026;
• won the Open Build Mistral Hackathon Paris 2025;
• came second in the World Wild Web Hackathon Paris 2025;
• was a finalist in the AI for Good competition at Columbia University in New York;
• was selected as one of the European talents to take part in the EuroTech Hong Kong Hackathon 2026.

Training AI leaders capable of making a real-world impact

Through Abdellahi El Moustapha’s journey, aivancity is seeing a key vision for the teaching of artificial intelligence come to fruition: to train not only technical experts, but also builders capable of transforming their environment.