United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2025 Photo Competition

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) are joining forces to launch a photo competition that highlights the global challenge of water scarcity and its impacts on land degradation. 

The UNCCD, dedicated to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and GWP, a multi-stakeholder network championing integrated water resources management, are uniting to showcase creative and practical solutions to these pressing challenges. This competition aims to inspire hope and action, drawing attention to innovative ways communities and ecosystems can become more resilient to drought.

Categories

Each photo submitted must align with one of the following categories. Participants should indicate the chosen category in the submission.

1. Technological and AI solutions: Innovations in water management, drought monitoring tools, and smart irrigation systems that help reduce water scarcity and protect land from degradation.
2. Governance solutions: Policies, community-led initiatives, and institutional strategies that support water and land management in times of drought.
3. Gender-responsive solutions: Showcasing the role of women and gender-sensitive approaches in creating sustainable responses to drought and land degradation.
4. Nature-based solutions: Ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, and natural infrastructure approaches that utilize the power of nature to mitigate drought impacts. 

• Table of Content
• About United Nations
• UNCCD Photo Competition
• Aim and Benefits of UNCCD Photo Competition
• Requirements for UNCCD Photo Competition Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for UNCCD Photo Competition
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations

The English language component of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme (IFP) was established in 1997. It takes place at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland and lasts for 4 weeks, usually coinciding with the annual meeting of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP). The objective of this training programme is to enhance the knowledge of indigenous peoples on existing international human rights instruments and mechanisms, so they can use them to more effectively advocate for the rights of their communities ...... continue reading

UNCCD Photo Competition

Aim and Benefits of UNCCD Photo Competition

Prize 

• Semi-finalists: Their photos will be featured in an online exhibition. 
• Finalists: Their works will be exhibited at UNCCD Headquarters in Bonn during the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDD) on June 17, 2025. 
• Winners: Each category winner will be given a 500$ gift card from the International Center of Photography or the Fotografiska Museum.

Requirements for UNCCD Photo Competition Qualification

• Photos must be taken ethically, ensuring respect for privacy and dignity, particularly when capturing images of individuals and vulnerable communities. 
• Contestants must clearly outline the permissions for the use of their photos, in compliance with GDPR. Personal information should not be visible without proper consent. 
• Each submission should include a brief description of the context, location, and solution highlighted in the photo. 
• Only one photo can be submitted per contestant, and it should be in high-resolution JPEG/JPG or PNG format. 
• Minimal retouching of color or light exposure adjustments are permitted to enhance the image's natural quality. However, entries featuring heavily retouched photographs or those generated using artificial intelligence (AI) tools will not be considered.

Interview date, Process and Venue for UNCCD Photo Competition

Review Process & Evaluation Criteria

The submissions will be scored by an international panel of judges on the following criteria:

• Relevance within the category.
• Composition and technical quality.
• Impactful storytelling.
• Creativity and originality.

Timeline

• The competition will be launched at UNCCD COP 16 in Riyad.
• Submissions are accepted until March 31, 2025.
• The winners will be announced in May 2025.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit UNCCD website.