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.”
A Woman Painting
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.
Double Curve
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
The Microsmile, Uganda. This woman is on the way to a weekly meeting with other members of a community-managed savings group. Photo by Oddvar Paulsen
New Day, New Nets, Vietnam. This man tends to his fishing nets in the early morning hours. He sells his catch at local markets later that day. Photo by Tran Bao Hoa
Potter, Turkey. This potter in the city of Konya is continuing his family business with help from a microloan. This opportunity enables him to proudly sustain his family and also maintain the cultural heritage of his family history. Photo by Erkan Kalenderli
Production of Ceramic, Vietnam. This woman was able to establish this small craft workshop through the government’s financial assistance. Photo by Van Bang Vo
For the second consecutive year, a popular vote on www.CGAP.org determined a People’s Choice winner. Voters chose “Talented Nesma,” submitted by Mohamad Gouda of Egypt, which depicts a woman who leveraged a microfinance loan to build a painting and embroidery business. The photo received 1,236 votes, nearly 400 more than the next most popular photo.
Eggs Vendor, The Philippines. This vendor sorts duck eggs that have been fertilized or are developing duck embryo to be cooked. The eggs are then used in popular foods that are sold as street food. Photo by Danilo Victoriano Jr.
At the conclusion of the judging session, held on 1 November 2013, Williams noted, “This was an incredible collection of photos and I was impressed by the quality of them.”
“The quality of the pictures was really outstanding this year,” added Lemakis.
“Photos of society and social inequality can help eliminate poverty by creating social awareness,” said Mohammad Rakibul Hassan.
Full List of 2013 CGAP Photo Contest Winners and Finalists:
Grand Prize: Rainy Afternoon, Truong Minh Dien, Vietnam
Second Prize: Paperman, Md Farhad Rahman, Bangladesh
Third Prize: Double Curves, Chi Keung Wong, Mali
People’s Choice: Talented Nesma, Mohamad Gouda, Egypt
Regional Winners
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Winner: New Tread, Pauline Opmeer, Tanzania
Latin America and Caribbean Regional Winner: Men and Oranges, Luiz Grillo, Brazil
South Asia Regional Winner: Brick Worker, Moksumul Haque, Bangladesh
East Asia and Pacific Regional Winner: The Gold Life, Vo Chi Trung, Vietnam
Europe and Central Asia Regional Winner: Shoe Repair Shop: Bulent Suberk, Turkey
Special Mentions
Press Man, Soumya Shankar Ghosal, India
Sabina, Wim Opmeer, Bolivia
Finalists
The Washerman, Rabin Chakrabarti, India
Production of Ceramic, Van Bang Vo, Vietnam
The Microsmile, Oddvar Paulsen, Uganda
Maize Grinding, Mohammad Saiful Islam, Uganda
Destination, Forhad Kamaly, Bangladesh
Cycle of Life, Mahfuzul Hasan Bhuiyan, Bangladesh
Men at Work, Joydeep Mukherjee, India
Camel Trader, Rabin Chakrabarti, India
Soap, Ben Warren, Burkina Faso
Sieving Lemon Verbena, Wim Opmeer, Paraguay
Crafting Path, AM Ahad, Bangladesh
Potter, Erkan Kalenderli, Turkey
Eggs Vendor, Danilo Victoriano Jr., The Philippines
Wave of Happiness, Roger Alfonso, Thailand
Coins, Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh
New Day, New Nets, Tran Bao Hoa, Vietnam
Carpenter, Vao Giang Tran, Vietnam
Innovation of Microfinance, Sudipto Das, India
Successful Business, Kelly Ranck, Sudan
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