Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize 2024

Get latest opportunities in your email

About Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize

After the success of the first-ever edition of the Climate Change Photo Essay Prize in 2023, we are thrilled to launch the second edition of the prize with the theme – “At a crossroad: Climate and change”.

This theme asks young photographers to consider how the ecological crisis is currently changing lives, how innovation and technology are responding to the crisis, and where change is not happening fast enough. The world is now at a crossroad when it comes to climate change, and photography can serve both as a tool for advocacy and as a barometer to show us where we stand. 

Entrants do not need to be professional photographers or artists — all are encouraged to enter. Entry into the prize is free, and applicants retain full image copyrights (See Ethical and Legal Guidelines below). Entrants are asked to submit a photo essay of three to five photographs that tell a cohesive story and address the theme. 

The Climate Change Photo Essay Prize is run by Africa Soft Power (ASP), in association with African Women Board (AWB) as part of the ‘Road to 100 Million Climate Soldiers in Africa’ campaign. The campaign is focused on climate education, which we view as the first step in securing climate solutions. Our goal is to educate and empower 100 million young Africans in the fight against climate change, which we will measure through the reach of each of the campaign’s projects.

Finalists will have their work shown in a series of international exhibitions. Last year’s finalists had their work shown in Nairobi, New York, Lagos, London and Kigali.

• Sponsor Organisation: Africa Soft Power Project

Benefits of Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize

• Cash prize for the winner, and finalists will have their work showcased in international exhibitions, building on the success of last year's prize, which featured finalists' work in Nairobi, New York, Lagos, London, and Kigali.

Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize Requirements

Image Rights and Use

• All Images must be the sole and exclusive ownership of the Entrant and must not infringe on the copyright of any other party or parties.
• Entrants retain full image copyrights
• The Entrant agrees that the photographs submitted to the Admin may be exhibited as part of the Prize exhibition at any venue worldwide.
  The Entrant agrees unconditionally to grant the Admin a non-exclusive Licence (the “Licence”) to reproduce, publish and exhibit the copyright owner’s Images upon entering the Prize. 
• The Admin may reproduce any shortlisted photographs for the purposes of marketing, promotion, discussion and education in direct connection with the Prize and exhibition, in all media worldwide including any exhibition catalogues and subsequent publications, posters, the Internet (including social media) and within television documentaries, and may license these specific, limited rights to others only for the same purposes.
• The Admin also reserves the right to reproduce selected images for core non–commercial purposes – including but not limited to past events page of the Admin’s website, brochures, publications – indefinitely, as a public record. The processes of the competition may be filmed, and entering the competition constitutes agreement by Entrant for submitted and/or selected images to be included in such filming, whether broadcast or not.
• Entrant selected for the exhibition will need to provide the Admin with a Tiff file of their photograph for use in the catalogue and exhibition marketing campaign.
• The Entrant will be credited for the use of their work, wherever practicable, as the Prize exists in part to raise the profile of the exhibiting artists.

Selling Photographs

• The Entrant agrees that images entered into the Prize will be from a limited edition. Selected images will be limited to an edition of 25 when printed to the size of 30 x 40 cm and limited to an edition of 15 when printed to the size of 50 x 60 cm. Edition sizes may be smaller if the Entrant already has an existing edition structure for their work. The Entrant retains the right to print their images in other sizes. 
• The Entrant agrees that the Admin has the right to sell selected images. The Admin will retain 30% of the revenue from the sale and the Entrant will receive 70% of the revenue. The revenue is not inclusive of printing and framing costs, which will be paid by the purchaser. The Admin will discuss the pricing structure with selected Entrants.

Judging

• There are two rounds of judging; the first will take place digitally where the Entrant will be required to upload their image(s) at the entry stage. The second round of judging is performed by a panel of independent judges (the “Judges”). The Judges are selected by the Admin and are appointed to their role by the Admin.
• The identities of the Judges selected by the Admin will be publicly available on the Competition website.
• Judges are provided with guidelines for procedures relating to the process, judging and any conflicts of interest.
• The decision of the judges is final, and no discussion or correspondence can be entered into at any time. All decisions are made at the judges’ discretion; they reserve the right to vary the prizes or not to make any award.

Ethics & Conduct

• All Entrants must ensure their photographs have been ethically obtained. This includes respect for nature, habitat, animals, personal property and trespass laws. Any suspected destruction of habitat or personal property that is suspected to capture any photographs will result in the Entrant being disqualified from the Competition.

Information & Conditions of Entry 

• You (the “Entrant”) agree it is your responsibility to have read the Competition Rules and Terms and Conditions prior to or at the time of entry into the Competition, and entry into the Competition
• By entering the Competition, Entrant hereby accepts these Competition Rules and Terms and Conditions.
• By entering the Competition, you agree and acknowledge that Africa Soft Power and African Women on Board (the “Admin”) are permitted to receive your registration data. All personal information will be used by the Admin in accordance with their Privacy Policy.
• The Prize is free to enter.
• The Prize is open to young people from Africa and the global diaspora community who are aged 18-30 on the closing date.
• Each image entered into the Competition (an “Entry” or “Image”) must be submitted electronically via email
• All entries must be submitted by 20th September 2024

Application Date and Process

• To enter, submit three to five photos that form a cohesive photo essay to Africa Soft Power by filling out the entry form and uploading your images: https://forms.gle/5qyAUHkWKkyVavvX8 
• All works entered must be the Entrant’s own work.
• Once the Entrant submits their photos, the Entrant cannot change or edit the submission.
• Photos must be at least 1200px on the longest side and at least 72dpi – only digital images will be accepted. (Please retain full-size versions of the images in your library as we may require them if your photo essay is picked as a winner)
• Submitted JPG/JPEG image files must be no larger than 10MB each
• No watermarking or digital frames or borders
• Entrant’s entry form should include the title of their photo essay and the photo selections. Please note that judges will not read descriptions or explanations of any Entrant’s work.

Application Deadline

20 September, 2024

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize

Apply for Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize