GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 10, 2025 – Today, in alignment with United Nations Human Rights Day, and announced live at the RightsX Summit 2025: Advancing Human Rights in the Digital Age at the historic Palais Wilson in Geneva, Call for Code, the largest tech-for-good initiative of its kind driven by creator David Clark Cause, Founding Partner IBM (NYSE: IBM), Global Impact Partner United Nations Human Rights, and Program Affiliate the Linux Foundation announced the winners of the annual Call for Code Global Challenge. 

Developers and problem solvers across the globe were invited to create AI-powered technology projects that address a variety of social and humanitarian issues during five separate “hackathon” events that were held throughout the year. Winners from each event moved on to judging for the final grand prizes. This year’s top prizes went to teams DuniAfrika, Young & Hungry, and Agents FDRK, which used IBM watsonx AI technologies and AI models like IBM Granite, to help address issues such as decent work and economic growth, clean water, and industry, innovation, and infrastructure challenges.

“Since its inception, Call for Code has shown what’s possible when humanity and technology pull in the same direction,” said David Clark, founder and CEO of Call for Code. “This year’s Global Challenge—focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals—proves that open, responsible innovation can serve the common good at scale. As we mark UN Human Rights Day, we salute our Founding Partner IBM, our Global Action Partner UN Human Rights, and our Affiliate Partner the Linux Foundation—and the developers in nearly every nation who are building a more just, sustainable, and equitable future one line of code at a time.” 

2025 Call for Code Global Challenge Winning Teams

The Grand Prize-winning team will receive $50,000 USD, as well as solution implementation support from the Call for Code ecosystem, as applicable. The runners-up will receive $25,000 USD and $10,000 USD. All three teams have the opportunity to receive assistance from the Linux Foundation to open source their application.

• The 2025 Call for Code Global Challenge Grand Prize Winner is DuniAfrika, a group of students from Jomo Kenyatta University, Kirinyaga University, and the University of Nairobi, who used IBM Granite to create an AI-powered safety assistant designed to help informal sector construction and trade workers access the equipment and training they need to stay safe on the job for the “Decent work and economic growth challenge.” As the top scoring university team, they are also the recipients of the 2025 University Grant, receiving $30,000 USD for their schools.

• The 2025 Call for Code Global Challenge First Runner-up is Young & Hungry. The team from SBA Info Solutions used IBM watsonx.ai and Granite series models to develop a multi-faceted agentic AI solution that provides actionable insights for all roles involved in the end-to-end management of community groundwater, for the “Clean water challenge” in March.

• The 2025 Call for Code Global Challenge Second Runner-up Winner Agents FDRK from Unisys used IBM watsonx Orchestrate to build an agentic AI solution that coordinates faster responses to infrastructure failures and urban disasters, with the goal of saving lives and property, for the “Industry, innovation, and infrastructure challenge.”

“The Call for Code Global Challenge demonstrates how practical innovation can advance equality and human dignity,” said Astrid Van Genderen Stort, Director of External Engagement and Partnerships, UN Human Rights. “By aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and grounding solutions in essential human rights, these teams are translating ideas into impact across communities worldwide. Their work reminds us that progress and justice go hand in hand— that no one should be left behind—and that technology is part of the solution, when deployed for good.”     

About Call for Code

Developers are the visionaries of progress, shaping the way humanity lives, connects, and thrives in an ever-changing world. Where others see obstacles, developers see solutions. Recognizing this potential, David Clark, CEO of David Clark Cause, launched Call for Code in 2018 with IBM as Founding Partner, United Nations Human Rights as Global Impact Partner, and The Linux Foundation as Program Affiliate. Since then, Call for Code has mobilized developers from over 180 countries to address the world’s most pressing challenges—from disaster response to combating climate change. In 2022, Call for Code it was named the preferred innovation platform for the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, the largest public-private initiative addressing climate change, supported by United Nations Human Rights and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. This collaboration underscores Call for Code’s unparalleled impact in mobilizing developers worldwide to drive meaningful change on a global scale.