The UNDP–Olympus-AFP Foundation Photo Contest

The people of developing countries are often the first to feel the effects of environmental degradation and climate change. This is especially true in Africa where water scarcity, crop failures and health risks associated with temperature changes are already being seen. But ordinary people should not always be seen as helpless. They also need to be seen for who they are: the stewards of their environment. They are the true experts and potentially the most powerful advocates for protecting the environment.

With this in mind, UNDP in partnership with Olympus Corporation and the Agence France-Presse Foundation, launched an Africa-wide photo contest calling for photos of people working to mitigate or prevent the effects of climate change and environmental degradation in their countries, cities and communities. The winning photos highlight solutions to these problems as opposed to simply capturing their damage. They focus on the small but positive actions that, put together, can lead to substantive change for the people of Africa and the environment they live in. Click here to learn more about the contest and to watch a short video about the winners.