'Lens on Development'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland announces a photography contest about the development challenges in the world. The total prize money is more than 10 000 euro.

According to the World Food Programme, more than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from hunger and malnutrition, with the vast majority (98%) living in developing countries. The least developed countries in the world include most African and some Asian nations.

The „Lens on Development" contest aims at presenting the problems and challenges of development worldwide to the European Union citizens. The contest also has in view to raise social awareness of the Millennium Development Goals and help to understand global development and its complexity.

The subject matter of the contest are development challenges of the poor countries and those undergoing political transformation. The Works submitted to the contest should present the daily life, culture and problems of the people living in developing countries - Developing countries - according to the classification of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)[1], developing countries are countries which qualify for the Official Development Assistance (ODA)[2]. The full list of countries - recipients of the ODA - can be found on the OECD's[3] website.

After announcing the results of the Contest, an exhibition of the awarded works shall be held. The exhibition will take place on the territory of Poland between 15^th and 29^th December 2011.

The photography Contest is organized within the European Development Days, which are a forum for discussing development cooperation, and is organized by the European Commission and the country currently holding the Council presidency. Following the Polish presidency in the Council of the EU, the European Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, organizes the VI edition of this event on 15^th and 16^th December 2011.  

Donor countries and international organizations give financial, material and advisory aid to developing countries. Development assistance is granted with the aim of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, supporting democratic reforms and rule of law, advocating human rights, developing civil societies, supporting economic growth, preventing conflicts and strengthening global security.

The European Union remains the world's principal donor of official development aid. The European Commission and the Member States finance 60% of all development initiatives worldwide. The EU financial aid system involves institutions running on behalf of the Member States. The role of the European Commission is dual: it is an individual donor, as well as a coordinator of the aid given by all Member States.

The contest works (photo/photo essay) can be submitted exclusively by electronic means using the website http://www.photo2011.eu/en/ between 3^rd October and 1^st November 2011 within the following four categories:

1.           Water - the source of life and health
2.           Education and entrepreneurship - the key to a better life
3.           The influence of the natural environment on human life
4.           Photo essay - concerning one of the Contest categories in points 1-3.

Each entrant may send up to three works within the categories specified in points 1-3. In the category ‘Photo essay' entrants may submit only one work consisting of minimum 3 and maximum 6 photos. Each entrant may altogether submit no more than 10 works.
                        

The prizewinners shall be chosen by the Jury and awarded the following prizes:

a)        Grand Prix of the contest of 2 500 EUR gross value;|
b)        I prize in each of the 4 categories of  1 000 EUR gross value;
c)        II prize  in each of the 4 categories of 500 EUR Gross value;

In each of the 4 categories there will also be given an Internauts' award of  400 EUR gross value each.

Internauts can vote for the best contest works during the 14 days following the date fixed for submitting the works.

Schedule of the contest:

To enter the contest and submit your photos, please visit http://www.photo2011.eu/en/

[1] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;

[2] Official Development Assistance;

[3] <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/32/40/43540882.pdf>.