2015 CGAP Photo Contest Now Open for Entries

Photo -  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150623/224869 

Over the past decade, the CGAP Photo Contest has documented the remarkable ways that access to formal financial services can improve poor people's lives. Much has changed and evolved throughout these years and innovative platforms such as digital financial services offer both hope and challenge to the over 2 billion unbanked people around the world.

To focus on the changing financial inclusion space, this year's contest will focus on four key themes: digital financial services; women's use of financial services; microfinance for small business enterprises; and smallholder farmers and their families. Submissions may represent a range of products, institutions, and approaches within these themes, and may touch on a broad variety of social, economic, developmental, and technological issues. Entries are welcomed from all regions, in both rural and urban settings.

Past winners include stunning and creative images that have been featured in top global media. The Guardian credited the 2014 contest, which received nearly 5,000 entries from 95 countries, with "raising awareness about the importance of increased access to financial services," while Business Insider said the contest highlights "uplifting photos of entrepreneurs in the developing world."

Several prizes will be issued in 2015, including a first, second, and third prize, as well as regional winners and a People's Choice winner determined by popular vote. The voting will take place between September 10 and September 17 .

Help show the world, through photography, the "face" of financial inclusion and how increased access to financial services can improve the lives of the poor. Submit your photos and share this announcement with your networks.

CGAP (the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a global partnership of 34 leading organizations that seek to advance financial inclusion. CGAP develops innovative solutions through practical research and active engagement with financial service providers, policy makers, and funders to enable approaches at scale. Housed at the World Bank, CGAP combines a pragmatic approach to responsible market development with an evidence-based advocacy platform to increase access to the financial services the poor need to improve their lives. More at www.cgap.org.