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Photography Showcase

Photography Showcase

#AfricanCITYFOODMonth, hosted every July, is a campaign that brings together stakeholders from different sectors to share ideas and experiences of urban food systems in African cities. It recognises that food can be a powerful lever for solving many problems in cities, as it is integral to how we plan and run our cities and our daily lives. The theme for the 2026 campaign is Local Plates, Healthy Futures. 

2026 Photo Competition: my food, my health, my city

This year’s photo competition explores this question: In cities where life moves fast, how do you make healthier food choices that work for your day?

Participants are invited to capture what healthy eating looks like in everyday urban life. From home kitchens to street corners, markets to cafés, we’re looking for real moments that show how people access, choose, prepare, and enjoy food that supports their health and wellbeing in the midst of busy city routines. Submissions should highlight healthier food choices in everyday urban contexts, reflecting how people balance convenience, affordability, and nutrition. This could include fresh foods from local markets, minimally processed foods, the role of food labelling, home cooking, local snacks, or thoughtful alternatives to highly processed options.
This competition aims to spotlight how everyday food choices can support healthier urban lifestyles, while recognising the realities of time, access, affordability and changing food environments.

Please see last year’s competition for inspiration: https://afrifoodlinks.org/showcase/who-feeds-the-future/ 

ENTER THE 2026 PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETION HERE
 

We invite you to submit photographs and a short story of an unsung hero or champion in your city’s food system.

Congratulations to the 3 winners!

View the winners and shortlisted entries here

Entry requirements:

 

Each entry must include:

3 photographs from an African city that work together to show a clear, everyday moment of healthy eating in the city:

The Plate: A photo of the food, (e.g. a dish, snack, ingredients or food being prepared)

The Place: Where the food is prepared, bought, or eaten (e.g. On your lap in the bus, your desk, home kitchens; street food stalls; markets and shops; workplaces or school/university canteens; cafés or small restaurants; public spaces such as transport hubs; community gardens or shared food spaces; etc.)

The Person(s): The person(s) preparing, serving, or eating the food

A brief, engaging title for the entry 

A short description (150-word limit) on what is happening in this set of photos, what makes this a healthier food choice in that context, what is the significance of this particular place for accessing this food and how it fits into everyday urban life. In other words, tell us the story behind the photos!  

Please note that due to child protection laws, NO images that contain children’s faces or identifiable portraits will be considered. 

Submission:

 

Entries open on 21 May 2026 and close on 17 June 2026, 17:00 SAST. No late submissions will be considered.

Entries must include all of the information above (title, description, and three photos to be considered). Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

You may submit up to three entries, but each must showcase a different food item or dish (following the guidelines above).

Submit photographs as JPEG/PNG files, each of maximum 10 MB size, with the following naming format: Name + Surname + Photograph Number (e.g. Jane Doe 1).

Multiple files can be submitted per entry, but these must all be related to the entry title and description. Otherwise, submit a separate entry. 

Eligibility:

 

We encourage anyone over the age of 18 to submit photos.

Photo content must be relevant to the #AfricanCITYFOODMonth 2026 theme.

Where possible, frame or edit photos to maximise their visibility

Photos can be taken with any kind of camera. Minor editing (slight changes to cropping, sharpening, contrast, etc.) is allowed, but the images should look natural and of high quality. Images that are fully or partially generated, altered or enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI) tools are not eligible for submission.

Please ensure you have consent from anyone identifiable in your photos. Most importantly, images must not be degrading to the dignity of the subject.

Avoid including clearly identifiable logos, brand names, or trademarks in your images. 

Due to privacy and child protection laws, NO images that contain children’s faces or identifiable portraits will be considered. Children in the distant background are acceptable.

Use rights:

 

Each participant retains all copyrights to their photographs and attribution to the photographer is provided alongside any use of the photographic submissions.

By submitting a photo for this competition:

    • -Participants confirm that the submission is their own original work and that they have the rights and permissions necessary to share it with ICLEI Africa.
    • -Participants grant ICLEI Africa the non-exclusive right to showcase the photograph(s) on the #AfricanCITYFOODMonth, #RISEAfrica, #AfriFOODlinks and ICLEI Africa platforms, as well as to use them for promotional purposes in print or digital formats.

Shortlisting and prizes:

Based on the selection criteria, 8-12 entries will be shortlisted. 

Our judging panel will then select 3 winners to be awarded $500 each. 

Winners will be announced in July during #AfricanCITYFOODMonth and showcased on our social media platforms — LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky/X  — and websites: AfriFOODlinks.org  and africa.iclei.org .

ENTER THE 2026 PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETION HERE
 

Disclaimer:

ICLEI Africa reserves the right to define the particular criteria for choosing the most compelling submission and not to select winners.

Note: This competition explores and highlights everyday food choices in urban life. It is not intended to provide dietary or health advice, but rather to showcase how people navigate food and wellbeing within their own contexts. 

For any inquiries about the photography competition, please contact: Mulesa Lumina at mulesa.lumina@iclei.org with Kabelo Nkatlo at kabelo.nkatlo@iclei.org.  

The AfricanCITYFOODmonth Photo Competition is supported through the AfriFOODlinks project, coordinated by ICLEI Africa and funded by the European Union.

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