Team DARAJA + AI Wins Major Global Recognition at AI for Good Summit
Resurgence-led consortium selected as one of four winners in UN-backed AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge
Geneva, July 2025 – Resurgence, in partnership with Sudan Urban Development Think-Tank (SUDTT) and Andariya, has been recognised as a winning solution at the AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge, presented at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 in Geneva.
Chosen from a global pool of innovators, Team DARAJA + AI showcased an AI-powered early warning solution designed to protect lives in crisis-affected Sudan, where climate shocks, conflict, and limited access to information create a perfect storm of vulnerability.
Bridging the Last Mile with AI
The winning solution proposes using Generative AI to deliver life-saving weather alerts through offline-first tools, voice and visual messaging, and DARAJA’s community-led co-design principles. This ensures that everyone, regardless of literacy, language, or location, can receive and act on early warnings.
“DARAJA means ‘bridge’ in Swahili, and that’s exactly what we do: connect life-saving weather information to the communities who need it most,” explained the team at the summit presentation.
The solution directly addresses two critical pillars of the UN’s Early Warnings For All (EW4All) Initiative:
Pillar 3: Ensuring that warnings reach every last mile
Pillar 4: Ensuring alerts are not just heard but acted upon
From Recognition to Action
Team DARAJA + AI will now move into piloting and scaling phases across Sudan and Ethiopia, working with key partners including Sudan Meteorological Authority, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, Ethiopian Red Cross Society, SUDTT, and Andariya.
The summit workshop on 9 July brought together global experts, innovators, and leaders from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Meteorological Organization, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Microsoft, Google, and others to explore how AI and collaboration can ensure no one is left behind in times of disaster.
A Proven Track Record
Since 2018, DARAJA has reached over one million people across six countries, including in conflict-affected areas. Working in partnership with national meteorological agencies, local communities, disaster risk experts, civil society organisations, NGOs, telecommunications companies, and media outlets, DARAJA builds inclusive early warning systems that transform early warning into early action.
The team are grateful to the ITU for leading the global challenge, and to WISER (Met Office global partnerships) funded by UK Aid and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, who have been invaluable DARAJA donor partners.
Standing Alongside Innovation
Team DARAJA + AI was selected alongside three other exceptional finalists: Team Bibliotechies, Team Ignitia, and Team DESTSAJ, each bringing unique, mission-driven solutions to the challenge of inclusive early warning systems.
As climate extremes intensify and vulnerable communities face mounting risks, this recognition marks a significant milestone in ensuring that AI-powered early warning systems reach those who need them most.
