Application Deadline: May 26, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 ITU AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge. The AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge: Bridging gaps with AI solutions is a global hackathon designed to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address critical gaps in early warning systems (EWS) for disasters and extreme weather events.
ITU is looking for projects that can propose solutions to innovate on these four challenge areas:
- Emergency Preparedness, Anticipatory Action and Resource Optimization: Apply AI to strengthen anticipatory approaches and optimize the allocation of emergency resources, including the design of scenario-based simulations, improving logistics, targeting and delivery under short lead times, supporting personalized early action advice, behaviour-triggering tools or coordination support, and assessing preparedness and/or anticipatory action plans in real-time.
- AI for Data Gaps: Develop AI-powered tools that address missing or low-quality data in early warning systems, including the use of synthetic data, data fusion, and natural language processing to enhance coverage and accuracy.
- AI for Forecasting and Impact-Based Prediction: Create AI models to improve the accuracy, lead time, and impact-based nature of hazard forecasting, including extreme weather, heatwaves, and slow-onset disasters.
- Societal Impacts of AI in Early Warning: Design inclusive, ethical AI systems that address language barriers, accessibility, misinformation, and trust-building in communities, especially among vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Requirements
The challenge is open to individuals and teams (maximum of 6 per team) from various backgrounds. This includes experts in:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- Climate Science and Meteorology
- Data Science and Engineering
- Communication and Social Sciences
- Anyone with a passion for leveraging technology for humanitarian impact!
Benefits
The AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge: Bridging gaps with AI solutions offers finalists a high-profile platform to showcase their solutions, gain global visibility, refine their ideas with expert mentorship, and build meaningful connections to help accelerate their work.. Finalists will:
- Present at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, during the session AI for Early Warnings for All Workshop: Bridging gaps with AI solutions on 09 July 2025, 09:00 AM – 12:15 PM CEST at Palexpo (Room T,) Geneva, Switzerland, gaining exposure to a global audience of tech leaders and changemakers.
- Receive tailored mentorship and technical guidance from leading AI experts, UN specialists and members of the AI Sub-Group of EW4All. Plug into a powerful network of UN agencies, AI innovators, policymakers, and partners ready to explore opportunities for collaboration and growth
Application Timeline:
- Phase 1: Challenge launch and registration (May 2025)
- Phase 2: Evaluation and shortlisting (May 2025)
- Phase 3: Ideation and solution development (June 2025)
- Phase 4: AI4Good Global Summit and announcement of selected solutions (July 2025)
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the ITU AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge
