Judging Criteria

Judges score every project with SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each letter is worth 20 points, for a total of 100.

SMART	Weight	What judges ask
SSpecific	20 pts	Is the problem clear? Who is this for? What exactly did the team build?
MMeasurable	20 pts	Can you see it working? Is there a demo or other evidence that it does what they claim?
AAchievable	20 pts	Did they finish something real in the programme? Is it well built and usable?
RRelevant	20 pts	Does it answer a real Sierra Leone need, from the challenge list or their own idea?
TTime-bound	20 pts	Did they hit deadlines, present a complete pitch on time, and say what comes next?

S · 20 pts

Specific

Judges look for a clear target:

Can they name the problem in one sentence?
Is it obvious who the project is for?
Do they know exactly what they built, not a vague idea?
Is the scope tight enough to finish in the programme?

M · 20 pts

Measurable

Judges look for proof:

Does the demo show the project actually running?
Can a judge tell whether it succeeded or not?
Are claims backed by what you can see, not just slides?
Is there a simple way to know if it helped someone?

A · 20 pts

Achievable

Judges look for a finished build:

Did they complete a working piece, not only a plan?
Is the build solid enough for someone else to use?
Is the interface clear enough to try without a long explanation?
Did they attempt something ambitious but still finish it?

R · 20 pts

Relevant

Judges look for local fit:

Does it tackle a listed challenge or a clear local idea?
Would this help a real person in Sierra Leone?
Do the builders understand the problem they chose?
Is the outcome practical, not just a demo for show?

T · 20 pts

Time-bound

Judges look for delivery on time:

Was the project submitted on time?
Did the pitch stay within time and cover the work?
Does the team have a next step if they had more days?
Did they show up and finish the programme work, not rush it at the end?

Score bands

Rough guide for how totals usually land.

90 to 100

Outstanding

Clear problem, working demo, real local fit, delivered on time.

80 to 89

Excellent

Strong SMART scores. A few rough edges, nothing major.

70 to 79

Good

Works, shows real effort, and answers a real problem.

60 to 69

Fair

Some of it is there, but it still feels unfinished.

Below 60

Needs work

Gaps in the build, the problem fit, the evidence, or the delivery.

Before you submit

Work must be your team's own. Don't submit someone else's project.
You may pick a listed problem or bring your own Sierra Leone idea.
Follow the programme rules and hit the deadlines.
Judges' decisions are final.
Late submissions can lose points or be ruled out.
Everyone on the team should help build and take part in the final pitch.

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SMART

Weight

What judges ask

SSpecific

20 pts

Is the problem clear? Who is this for? What exactly did the team build?

MMeasurable

20 pts

Can you see it working? Is there a demo or other evidence that it does what they claim?

AAchievable

20 pts

Did they finish something real in the programme? Is it well built and usable?

RRelevant

20 pts

Does it answer a real Sierra Leone need, from the challenge list or their own idea?

TTime-bound

20 pts

Did they hit deadlines, present a complete pitch on time, and say what comes next?

Score bands

Rough guide for how totals usually land.

90 to 100

Outstanding

Clear problem, working demo, real local fit, delivered on time.

80 to 89

Excellent

Strong SMART scores. A few rough edges, nothing major.

70 to 79

Good

Works, shows real effort, and answers a real problem.

60 to 69

Fair

Some of it is there, but it still feels unfinished.

Below 60

Needs work

Gaps in the build, the problem fit, the evidence, or the delivery.