A Milestone for Indonesia and an Invitation to Build a Stronger Future Together
Yayasan Sakawarga is proud to announce that our initiative, AI for Community Resilience, has been selected as one of the global winners of the TECH4Resilience Challenge, an international programme supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Trafigura Foundation. Chosen from more than 300 applications submitted from around the world, Sakawarga now stands as Indonesia’s representative in a cohort of eight leading innovations using artificial intelligence to strengthen climate and disaster preparedness. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for our organisation and the communities we serve, confirming that locally led innovation can rise to global prominence when equipped with the right tools and support.
Indonesia is experiencing climate shocks at a pace and scale that exceed what traditional preparedness methods can address. Extreme floods, landslides, heatwaves, and unpredictable weather patterns are now affecting everyday life in both rural and peri-urban regions. As these disruptions intensify, the world is increasingly turning to the promise of AI for Good — a movement that harnesses artificial intelligence not for commercial gain alone, but for solving humanity’s most urgent challenges. In the context of climate resilience, AI has the potential to analyse risks faster than humans, translate complex data into simple guidance, forecast hazards before they strike, and help communities act in time to save lives and livelihoods. Yet the true power of AI emerges only when combined with local knowledge, community leadership, and inclusive design — principles that guide Sakawarga’s approach.
Our award-winning innovation, the Resilience Coach, is a practical example of how AI for Good can be brought directly into villages in ways that are trusted, accessible, and culturally grounded. Delivered through voice and text in local languages, the Coach adapts to community practices and provides clear, actionable steps that residents can follow to prepare for emergencies. It transforms disaster training into a continuous learning process, helping Community-Based Action Teams, women leaders, youths, and families stay ready long after a workshop ends. In doing so, it bridges the gap between global advances in AI and the realities faced by Indonesian communities who are often the first to experience the impacts of climate change.
Winning the TECH4Resilience Challenge brings Sakawarga global recognition and valuable support, including mentorship from international experts, communication visibility, leadership coaching, and seed funding of up to USD 50,000. More importantly, it serves as a validation that community-driven, technology-enabled ways of building resilience are not only possible but urgently needed. Around the world, humanitarian organisations, climate scientists, and philanthropic partners are increasingly acknowledging that AI can significantly strengthen anticipatory action — helping communities know what to do before hazards escalate into crises. Sakawarga’s model fits squarely within this global shift and presents a scalable, community-led pathway for AI-powered resilience.
This achievement opens new opportunities for partnership and collaborative growth. The next phase of Sakawarga’s work will focus on scaling the Resilience Coach to reach more villages across Indonesia, particularly those facing the highest climate risks. Doing so will require deeper engagement with philanthropic donors, humanitarian agencies, local and national governments, ESG-driven companies, and civil society organisations committed to building long-term resilience. With the right support, Sakawarga can extend the benefits of AI for Good to hundreds of villages, ensuring that millions of residents have access to timely, life-saving information whenever they need it. The potential impact is immense, and the model can be adapted across languages, regions, and disaster types.
Our journey has been shaped by the collaboration of volunteers, CBAT members, women’s groups, youth communities, the Indonesian Red Cross, and local governments who have trusted Sakawarga’s vision. Their lived experience is the backbone of our innovation. As the climate crisis accelerates, these partnerships will be more important than ever. Preparedness is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity for safeguarding communities, protecting livelihoods, and preserving dignity in the face of increasing environmental uncertainty.
As Sakawarga steps into this new chapter, we warmly invite donors and partners to join us in expanding this breakthrough. Together, we can scale a globally recognised, community-led, AI-powered solution that not only strengthens Indonesia’s resilience but contributes to the global movement for climate justice and preparedness.
Those interested in collaborating, contributing, or learning more about our next phase of work are welcome to connect with us directly.
Together, let us build a future where every Indonesian village is prepared, connected, and resilient — and where AI serves the good of humanity, especially those most vulnerable to the changing climate.