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Welcome to the "WALK OF WATER: WATER TOWERS" Photo Story Contest!

Every year, UN-Water sets the theme for World Water Day. In 2025, the focus will be on glaciers, coinciding with the International Year of Glacier Preservation.

To celebrate this, Onewater, the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme and partners are convening the next international WALK OF WATER photostory contest.

The contest invites photographers to shed light on the critical issue of disappearing glaciers, celebrate the diverse ways in which water is stored, and redefine the concept of 'water towers.'

Photostories should achieve either of the following

• Document the impact of climate change and glacial retreat on nature and people from source-to-sea.

• Capture the essence of both natural and human-made water storage, while acknowledging their changing environments and landscapes.

• Explore how new metaphorical 'water towers' are emerging. This could include innovative water management solutions, alternative sources of freshwater, or even artistic contributions.

We are looking for powerful photo stories that highlight the critical issues surrounding not only disappearing glaciers, but water conservation in general. Share your vision and creativity with us and contribute to raising awareness on this vital topic.

Join us in capturing the ever-evolving essence of 'water towers' and help make a difference. We look forward to seeing your inspiring work!

This year's contest is sponsored by MPB, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the City of Burghausen. Our partner, Picter, will again provide its platform for receiving submissions.

What winners receive

Our sponsors have helped us make this year's prizes bigger and better, giving participants more chances to win.

10,000€ in Global Prizes Sponsored by MPB

Winners will be announced on January 27, 2025

• 1st prize: 5000 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 2nd prize: 2000 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 3rd prize: 1000 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 4 merits: 500 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website

5,000€ for Regional Prizes - South Asia Region (Hindu Kush Himalaya) Sponsored by ADB

Hindikush region: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, China

Winners will be announced on January 20, 2025

• 1st prize South Asia Region: 1500 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 2nd prize South Asia Region: 1000 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 3rd prize South Asia Region: 500 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 5 South Asia Region merits: 100 EUR each + feature on Onewater’s website

There is also a special youth category for participants from South Asia who are under 25 at the time of submission.

• 1st Youth Prize South Asia Region: 700 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 2nd Youth Prize South Asia Region: 500 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website
• 3rd Youth Prize South Asia Region: 300 EUR + feature on Onewater’s website

About Onewater

Onewater is a social enterprise committed to advancing water science communication and facilitating knowledge transfer. Our mission is to bridge science-policy gaps and facilitate dialogue among communities, researchers, service providers, development agencies and policy makers to address global and local freshwater and ocean challenges and promote sustainable solutions.

Judging criteria

Submissions will be judged on the story they conveying, originality, theme, and photo quality.

Sponsors