Beyond the Camera’s Lens

What does a water-secure world look like? USAID works with its partners around the world to build a water-secure future that supports global health, prosperity, stability, and resilience.

The winners of this year’s Water-Secure World Photo Contest bring that vision to life, capturing the breadth and geography of USAID programming under the U.S. Global Water Strategy. The winning photos show us how a child feels when she has safe drinking water that she didn’t have before or how USAID supports women to lead progress on water security in their countries and thrive in sectors typically dominated by men- like sanitation, engineering and chemistry.

But what is captured through the camera’s lens represents only a brief moment in time. We talked to the photographers to learn more about the story happening outside the frame of the images.

Here’s what they had to say.

The photo...demonstrates the trust and confidence in what they provide to the community, empowered by the knowledge and skills they have gained.

Mohab Elshenawy, IWSSTA Communications Manager, Tetra Tech

For years, this role has been a male dominated sphere. Participation of the young female engineer was a great inspiration to me; it is straightforward evidence of gender inclusion.

Yussuf Kajenje, USAID's Maji Na Usafi Wa Mazinigira (MUM) Activity, Tanzania

[I was inspired by] the sense of happiness and relief in the atmosphere as the women fetched clean water to use in their households.

Abel Gichuru, Action Against Hunger Kenya

Water is precious and source of happiness.

Dahery Razaka Rafenomanana, USAID/RANO WASH

If women get equal opportunities, they can be entrepreneurs, too and contribute to the country's progress, especially in the sanitation sector where women usually do not dare to step in.

Feed The Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity, ABT Associates Inc.

See all winners and honorable mentions here

Visit the Ronald Reagan Building lobby in Washington, D.C. (14th Street entrance) to see the photos on display from September 18-29, 2023.

Building Resilience Through Strong Water and Wastewater Companies

Winner for Strategic Objective 1: Strengthen governance, finance, institutions, and markets

Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt

The photo…demonstrates the trust and confidence in what they provide to the community, empowered by the knowledge and skills they have gained.

Photo credit: Mohab Elshenawy, IWSSTA Communications Manager, Tetra Tech

In this photo, laboratory director, Reda Abu Alqasem and chemist, Faten Farouq at the Qena Water and Wastewater Company in Egypt prepare a liquid alum solution that will help them determine the optimum dosage for treating drinking water.

Through USAID’s Integrated Water Solutions Support Technical Assistance (IWSSTA) project, chemists like Reda and Faten gain advanced knowledge on water quality treatment that they then employ to help the company more sustainably and efficiently treat wastewater. The companies spend less on chemicals, reduce water losses and energy use in the production plant, and produce a higher standard of treated water - all of which will improve the drinking water for the 20 million people living in Upper Egypt.

Young Female Water Engineer Leads Water Research

Winner for Strategic Objective 3: Improved conservation

Kalambo District, Tanzania

For years, this role has been a male dominated sphere. Participation of the young female engineer was a great inspiration to me; it is straightforward evidence of gender inclusion.

Photo credit: Yussuf Kajenje, USAID’S Maji Na Usafi Wa Mazingira (MUM) Activity, Tanzania

In the photo, Mariam Mkwabi, a young female engineer from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in Msanzi Village, Tanzania measures water quantity using a current meter. The boulders on which she and her colleague, RUWASA staff member, Marwa Webiro crouch, were once covered by water. Inconsistent rainfall related to global climate change, has contributed to lower water levels. Ms. Mkwabi’s research informed the design process for planned water infrastructure projects carried out by USAID’s Maji na Usafi wa Mazingira (MUM) Activity. The MUM Activity works directly with national, regional, and district stakeholders, including RUWASA, to improve Tanzanian systems for planning, financing, and implementing expanded access to climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

Both Ms. Mkwabi and Mr. Webiro live in the project area, and their research continues to improve water services within their communities and neighboring regions.

Water Trucking Site in Kenya

Winner for Strategic Objective 4: Anticipate and reduce conflict and fragility related to water

Oldonyiro Ward, Isiolo, Kenya

[I was inspired by] the sense of happiness and relief in the atmosphere as the women fetched clean water to use in their households.

Photo credit: Abel Gichuru, Action Against Hunger Kenya

Oldonyiro Ward in Isiolo, Kenya has been stricken with drought, leading to insufficient water supply for drinking, domestic use, and livestock, the community’s primary source of income. This has caused food scarcity, exacerbating health concerns around malnutrition and the prevalence of water-borne diseases. To respond to the immediate needs, Action Against Hunger (supported by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance) provided water trucking sites throughout Isiolo county to ensure people have sufficient water in the short-term to cope with the damaging effects of drought.

A Sip of Happiness

Winner for Strategic Objective 2: Increase access to safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient drinking water and sanitation services

Vakinankaratra, Madagascar

Water is precious and a source of happiness.

Photo credit: Dahery Razaka Rafenomanana, USAID/RANO WASH

Bonj Hajarivony Fy Nolazaina “Jessica” is a young girl living in the commune of Andranomanelatra in the Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar, which receives support from USAID’s Rural Access to New Opportunities WASH project to extend and improve drinking water infrastructure and increase access healthy WASH behaviors. Residents of the commune, led by a highly motivated mayor, eagerly adopted healthy hygiene habits like washing their hands with soap, using washable sanitary towels for women and girls, and constructing improved latrines. Since doing so, the commune has gained open defecation free status. As of 2023, RANO WASH reached more than 300,000 Malagasy with safe drinking water and more than 742,494 people with improved access to sanitation in hundreds of villages and towns around Madagascar.

See more RANO-WASH photos

USAID Empowers Women Sanitation Business Owners in Rural Bangladesh

Winner for Strategic Objective 2: Increase access to safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient drinking water and sanitation services

Bangladesh

If women get equal opportunities, they can be entrepreneurs, too and contribute to the country’s progress, especially in the sanitation sector where women usually do not dare to step in.

Photo credit: Anower Hossain Sagor for Feed The Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity, Abt Associates Inc.

Beulbuli Begum’s latrine production center is the primary supplier of improved sanitation products in her community in Bangladesh. As an entrepreneur, Ms. Begum makes and sells latrines that hygienically separate human waste from human contact. USAID’s Feed the Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity traines latrine producers and their masons on the production and sales of improved latrines, financial management, and proper construction and installation. Furthermore, USAID connects sanitation business businesses with suppliers of quality construction materials and parts like the SATO pan as part of its efforts to build dynamic and innovative partnerships with the private sector. Sanitation entrepreneurs, led by women like Ms. Begum, are key to developing affordable and climate-resilient sanitation solutions in their communities.