2025 UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition

🌍 About the Competition

The UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition invites amateur and professional photographers worldwide to showcase their creativity and highlight youth skills through photography. This year's theme is "Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills."

Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 16, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2025
• Category: Contest

🎁 Benefits

Winners of the competition will receive the following prizes:

1. 1st Prize: $750 USD
2. 2nd Prize: $500 USD
3. 3rd Prize: $350 USD

Additional benefits:

• Winning photographers and finalists will receive a certificate.
• Entries will be featured on the UNESCO-UNEVOC website and social media platforms.
• All submissions will become the property of UNESCO-UNEVOC and may be used in future media campaigns, publications, and promotional materials.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible to participate if:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You are the owner or copyright holder of the photo entry/entries.

Photo Requirements

Photos should highlight innovative aspects of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

This year's competition focuses on the following themes:

• AI and digital skills in TVET: Capture moments of youth engaging with AI-powered tools, digital simulations, coding, or virtual/augmented reality in TVET institutions.
• Equity in tech: Showcase moments where girls, youth with disabilities, or marginalized communities thrive in digital or AI-enhanced TVET environments.
• Digital solutions for a green future: Highlight how TVET equips youth with tech-driven green skills for resilient futures.
• Digital skills for peace: Capture youth using AI or digital technologies through TVET to promote peacebuilding, resilience, or community well-being.

📋 Do's and Don'ts

Do's

• Focus on the thematic area(s) to ensure your entry adheres to the themes.
• Use a camera that outputs high-resolution photos (minimum 3000 pixels on the longest side with 300 DPI/PPI).
• Obtain approval/consent from individuals featured in the photo. Use the UNESCO consent form.
• Specify any simple edits made to the photo.

Don'ts

• Do not submit photos generated by AI.
• Avoid photo collages (multiple photos in one frame).
• Do not include watermarks, logos, signatures, or overlays on your photo.
• Do not submit photos unrelated to the thematic areas.

📅 Application Process

Submission Deadline

15 September 2025

Submission Requirements

• All photos must be accompanied by a completed submission form.
• Email your submission to unevoc.skills(at)unesco.org with the subject line: Last name_SAPhotoCompetition2025.

Photo Entries

• Include a title and a brief paragraph (max 75 words) explaining the context of the photo, along with where and when it was taken.
• Submit photos in jpeg format (Raw/Tiff files are also accepted). The longer side should be at least 3,000 pixels.
• Rename photos in the format: Lastname-Firstname_title.jpeg (e.g., Oyelowo-Eyitayo_Female-aircraft-engineers.jpeg).
• Ensure compliance with the Terms and Conditions (found in the submission form).

Submission Steps

1. Add a title and description for each photo.
2. Rename the photo(s) as per the format.
3. Complete the submission form and rename it: Lastname-Firstname_SAPC25_SF.docx.
4. Email the completed form and original photo files to unevoc.skills(at)unesco.org.
5. If attachments exceed the email size limit, use cloud storage services like WeTransfer and provide a direct download link.

🏆 Selection Process

1. Initial Filtering: UNESCO-UNEVOC will filter entries based on compliance with the basic terms and conditions.
2. Evaluation Criteria:
   • Adherence to the theme
   • Uniqueness of the concept/shot
   • Creativity
   • Innovative delivery of the message
3. Shortlisting: Photographers will be informed via email if their entries are shortlisted.
4. Announcement: Winners will be announced on the UNESCO-UNEVOC website, social media platforms, or during a major event.

The Photo Library will be regarded as an Open Access Repository under the Creative Commons 4.0 IGO License.

📧 Contact Information

For inquiries or submissions, email: unevoc.skills(at)unesco.org

📌 Important Links

• Submission Form
• Competition Details

• 1st prize - 750 USD
• 2nd prize - 500 USD
• 3rd prize - 350 USD
• Winning photographers and finalists will receive a certificate.
• Entries will be featured on the UNESCO-UNEVOC website and across various social media platforms.