The Energy Community Secretariat and GIZ have launched the first Women in Energy Photo Contest. Women working in the energy sector and having their long-term residence in one of the Energy Community contracting parties can apply until September 21.
The Energy Community Secretariat and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have invited women working in the energy sector to showcase their work and professional journey through photography.
Women residing in one of the Energy Community contracting parties – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or Ukraine – can submit up to two photographs portraying themselves in their real working environment.
According to the organizers, the first edition of the Women in Energy Photo Contest aims to increase the visibility and recognition of women across the energy sector in Southeast and Eastern Europe by highlighting their diverse roles, expertise and contributions.
“The Initiative responds to the need for more visible role models that challenge gender stereotypes and inspire future generations. Through the photo contest, the initiative seeks to foster dialogue on the institutional, educational, and workplace changes needed to enable more women to enter, remain, and advance in the energy sector,” the Energy Community Secretariat said.
Photographs of ten selected participants to be exhibited at Just Transition Forum in Podgorica
Women working in technical, operational, field-based, engineering, regulatory, research, management, and policy roles are eligible to apply. The photographs should represent the applicant’s own professional story, experience or journey. The application deadline is September 21.
The photographs of ten selected participants will be presented at an exhibition at the Just Transition Forum in Podgorica, Montenegro, on October 20. The exhibition may subsequently be showcased at other regional and international events.
The winners of the three main prizes will receive additional promotion through the Energy Community and GIZ communication channels. They will also be able to choose between two options: reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs of up to EUR 500 to attend the Just Transition Forum or reimbursement of up to EUR 500 for participation in an energy-related capacity-building training course.
How to apply
Applicants should submit one or two photographs together with the completed application form in Word or PDF format. The form can be downloaded via this link, and applications should be sent to marta.schulte-fischedick@energy-community.org.
Under the competition requirements, photographs must be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. They should ideally have a minimum resolution of 3,000 pixels on the longest side or a file size of at least 2 MB. They should also be suitable for printing in A3 or A2 format. Photographs can be submitted in landscape, portrait or square format and can be either colour or black-and-white.
Basic editing, such as cropping, exposure, and contrast correction, is permitted. AI-generated content, the addition or removal of elements, and other heavy manipulation are not allowed.
Submissions will be evaluated based on the authenticity of the photograph, its storytelling power, its contribution to challenging stereotypes, the representation of less visible occupations and working environments, visual quality, and relevance to the energy transition.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans.
