The 2013 Grand Prize is a $2,000 gift certificate for photography equipment.
The photograph was selected from a record 3,890 entries from professional and amateur photographers in 91 countries. In the picture, a woman transports potatoes to a local market in Vietnam during a downpour to earn money to feed her husband and two children.
The judging panel appreciated Truong Minh Dien’s ‘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, 2010 CGAP Photo Contest Winner and guest judge of the 2013 contest.
In addition to the compelling story behind the winning image, the judges felt that it was excellent from a technical standpoint. “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.”
Four other entries from Vietnam also featured prominently in the contest. ‘The Gold Life’, a photo by Vo Chi Trung, was selected as the Regional Winner for East Asia and the Pacific. Three other entries by Van Bang Vo, Tran Bao Hoa and Vao Giang Tran were among the finalists.
The organising board presented second prize to Md Farhad Rahman from Bangladesh for his photo ‘Paperman’, and third prize to Chi Keung Wong from Mali for ‘Double Curves’.
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.
Established in 1995 and housed at the World Bank, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) works toward a world in which everyone has access to the financial services they need to improve their lives.
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‘Paperman’ by Md Farhad Rahma (Bangladesh)
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‘Double Curves’ by Chi Keung Wong (Mali)
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‘Talented Nesma’ by Mohamad Gouda (Egypt)
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‘Brick worker’ by Moksumul Haque (Bangladesh)
