Nearly 7 out of 10 people will live in urban areas by 2050. As the urban population booms, it is a major challenges to ensure provision of sustainable water and sanitation services, particularly to poor communities and those living in informal settlements.

Corruption and a lack of integrity compound this challenge. They drain financing from the sector, by, for example, siphoning funds out of the system, directing services delivery to specific groups, delivering sub-standard or dysfunctional services, employing incompetent people to manage water and sanitation services. Without addressing these twin issues, it is unlikely that the Sustainable Development Goals will be met.

This year’s photo and design competition focuses on the dynamics of corruption and integrity in the urban water and sanitation sector. We ask contestants to send us images that show either side of the coin: the damaging effect of corruption on service provision in cities in the era of climate change, or the way integrity (and its pillars Transparency, Accountability, Participation, and Anti-corruption) can make a difference to support service delivery and ensure we leave no one behind.

Participants are invited to share their vision and submit up to two images that examine these complex dynamics, along with captions or short descriptions for each image.

For the first time, we are going beyond photography and welcoming entries that include visual art work (graphic design, painting, illustrations etc.).

Our jury of water and media specialists will select the winning images.

All shortlisted photos will be displayed on the WIN website and be part of the design of the next Water Integrity Global Outlook 2021 publication.

Winners will be announced on World Water Day, 22 March 2020.