Water for Peace and Prosperity Photostory Contest

UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme and Onewater are launching the third edition of the photo contest inspired to the topic of the 2024 UN World Water Development Report on "Leveraging Water for Peace and Prosperity". 

The Report will be launched on occasion of the official celebrations of World Water Day, on 22 March 2024.

The photo contest aims at amplifying water's pivotal role in conflicts and its capability to serve as a beacon of peace, particularly in regions spanning multiple borders like river basins or groundwater reserves that traverse various nations or communities. 

Prosperity and peace are the result of partnerships and cooperation and information sharing around water resources on all scales, including across countries, basin commissions, regions, cities, communities, cooperatives, etc.

Water not only underpins a healthy environment and robust economies but also propels individuals towards peace, cooperation, and security, paving the way for a sustainable tomorrow. We encourage you to depict this profound interconnection with your photography. 

Your snapshots can encapsulate water's allure, its challenges, and its vast potential, ranging from tranquil vistas to compelling human engagements.

Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to participate, with no restrictions based on age, gender, or location.

To participate, submit your entry to  contest@onewater.blue. If your pictures are too big, please send us a wetransfer link. Up to 3 photo stories may be submitted per candidate. Each submission must include the following:

• 5-10 photographs to tell a (photo) story (.jpg or .png, with a resolution of at least 3872 x 2592). Each photo should be numbered and include a small caption.
• 400 words (maximum) of accompanying text.

• Signed Photo License Agreement.

  Submission deadline 7 January 2024

Three winners will be announced by the end of January 2024. The 15 highest ranking works will be exhibited at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. All submissions will be considered for inclusion in a printed photo book as well as publication via the Onewater website.

• 1st prize: 750 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website + in printed photo book + UNESCO exhibit in Paris
• 2nd prize: 450 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website + in printed photo book + UNESCO exhibit in Paris
• 3rd prize: 300 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website + in printed photo book + UNESCO exhibit in Paris
• 12 merits: feature on Onewater’s website + in printed photo book + UNESCO exhibit in Paris

Upon submission, photographers agree to the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). Onewater and UNESCO must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made to the photography. Neither organisation intends to make any changes. This licence means that UNESCO and Onewater can share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) any material received, while giving appropriate credit to the photographer as the original content creator.

• Submissions may be submitted by an individual or an organization. They must be the original work of the participant or organization. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded per participant.
• Submissions must not plagiarize or violate any intellectual property rights.
• As a participant you acknowledge and agree that your entry may be promoted by the organizers on their website(s) and/or in various media (including via paper, data and digital media) at the organizer’s discretion.
• Judges will agree to a statement of no conflict of interest.
• Judges' scores will not be shared with participants at any time. The entry receiving the highest aggregate scores will win the first place prize.
• Honorable mention prizes will be given to the next 12 highest scores.
• The winners will be required to provide their first and last name, mailing address, phone number and bank account information to the Organizer within 72 hours of notification.