Images provided by CGAP
Photographers from over 90 countries made this the most competitive year for the CGAP Photo Contest, which just finished its eighth consecutive competition. The winner of the 2013 CGAP Photo Contest is Truong Minh Dien of Vietnam. The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor works toward a world in which everyone has access to the financial services they need to improve their lives. CGAP develops innovative solutions for financial inclusion through practical research and active engagement with financial service providers, policy makers, and funders. Established in 1995 and housed at the World Bank, CGAP combines a pragmatic approach to market development with an evidence-based advocacy platform to advance poor people’s access to finance. Their global network of members includes over 30 development agencies, private foundations, and national governments that share a common vision of improving the lives of poor people with better access to finance.

“Rainy Afternoon” by Truong Minh Dine, Vietnam. Grand Prize. A woman transports potatoes to a local market. Her earnings help feed two children and her husband.
The annual CGAP Photo Contest aims to highlight stand-out professional and amateur photographers depicting financial inclusion around the world. Through strong photography, CGAP showcases the different ways in which poor households manage their financial lives and how financial inclusion can make the lives of people at the base of the economic pyramid better.

”Paperman” by Md Farhad Rahman, Bangladesh. Second Prize. This man earns an income selling daily papers in a railway station. Selling papers is a common form of self-employment in Bangladesh
A panel of four judges selected Dien’s photo, “Rainy Afternoon,” out of a record number of 3,890 entries from professional and amateur photographers in 91 countries. The 2013 panel of judges consisted of Suzanne Lemakis, Director of the Department of Fine Art at Citigroup, Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, the 2010 CGAP Photo Contest winner and professional photographer from Bangladesh, Stelios Varias of Reuters, and Indira Williams, the senior manager of visual resources at the Newseum.

”Brick Worker” by Moksumul Haque, Bangladesh. Regional Winner, South Asia. A private enterprise worker is working at a brick field. Small businesses create new jobs for many poor people.
The winning photo depicts a woman transporting potatoes to a local market in Vietnam during a downpour. The woman’s earnings help feed her husband and two children. The 2013 Grand Prize is a $2,000 gift certificate for photography equipment.
The judging panel appreciated “Rainy Afternoon” for the way it thoughtfully depicted the resilience of low-income entrepreneurs in Vietnam. “The photo really captured a great moment,” said Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, the 2010 CGAP Photo Contest Winner and guest judge for 2013.
In addition to the compelling story behind the winning image, the judges felt that it was technically excellent. “It takes a disciplined photographer to step back and take a picture like this,” said Stelios Varias, a senior photographer and editor from Thomson Reuters and one of the four judges. “It’s incredibly hard to get a good shot in the rain.”

Camel Trader, India. Microfinance plays a big role in this camel trader’s life. He has recieved a loan to trade and buy camels at the Puskhar Fair. Photo by Rabin Chakrabarti

East Asia and Pacific Regional Winner: The Gold Life (Vietnam) This beautiful area used to be the Panduranga capital of the Ancient Champa Kingdom. These women cross the sand dunes to the beach for fishing every morning. Photo by Vo Chi Trung

The Washerman, India. After washing, cloths are laid down for drying, ultimately to be sold to help this man earn an income. Photo by Rabin Chakrabarti
The judges also selected 28 other photos from around the world as regional winners, finalists, and special mentions, which were chosen for both technical excellence and depiction of the stories and faces behind financial inclusion. Of particular note was the South Asia regional winner, “Brick Worker,” submitted by Moksumul Haque of Bangladesh. The photo captures bricks tossed in mid-air, leaving the viewer wondering what happened immediately after the picture was taken.

Latin America and Caribbean Regional Winner: Men and Oranges (Brazil) The São Joaquim Market is the largest flea market in the city of Salvador and more traditional for the low-income population. It is the main distributor of clay handicrafts, products to Candomblé rituals, plus fruits, vegetables, meat, clothes, and other products. Here, workers are supplying a truck with oranges that will be distributed to other regions. Photo by Luiz Grillo