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'Plant Trees, Not Plastics' Photo/Video Competition

November 1-30, 2021

Online

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Photo: Rogers Kayihura/World Bank


Announcing the Winners!

Africa’s ecosystems are increasingly at risk from climate change. Some 20% of Africa’s land surface is estimated to be degraded because of soil erosion, salinization, pollution, and loss of vegetation or soil fertility. This is a result of factors including deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, overgrazing, uncontrolled mining activities, invasive alien species, and, increasingly, climate change.

Simultaneously, plastic waste continues to be a major challenge in the region. It not managed well, it contributes to environmental pollution impacting livelihoods and public health.

Urgent action is needed to tackle these challenges and the World Bank Group is ramping up its support to help countries shape a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery. The World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan, which complements the Africa Climate Business Plan, commits that over the next five years, 35 percent of World Bank Group financing will directly contribute to climate action. Because without rapid deployment of inclusive, climate-informed development throughout the region, 43 million more people could be pushed below the poverty line by 2030.

The Challenge: Tell Us Your Story and Ideas

The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region is launching a climate change video/photo competition, "Plant Trees, Not Plastics." If you are between 18 and 35 years old and a resident of one of the eligible countries (see below), we invite you to tell us a story in a 1-minute video, OR in a photo or series of photos (three photos maximum) with text detailing innovative actions you or members of your community are taking toward addressing the impacts of plastic waste in your community.

Eligible countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sao Tome & Principe, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

  • Requirements for Video Submissions:

    • The video must be original and no more than 1 minute long.
    • Record in English or French in a quiet place (no music or background noise).
    • Make sure the video is not shaky, the camera must be still while filming.
    • Listen to your audio before you upload to ensure good audio quality.
    • Videos should not be digitally or otherwise altered beyond standard optimization.

    Requirements for Photo Submissions:

    • Submit a maximum of three photos. Photos can also be presented as a montage.
    • Along with your submission, please include key messages detailing the actions in writing.
    • Photos that have been digitally or otherwise altered beyond standard optimization or copied from elsewhere will be disqualified.
  • Send us your entry and follow the steps. 

    Please submit your video/photo captions in English or French.

    Before you submit, please read the terms and conditions on this page.

    Submissions via email won't be accepted.

  • A panel consisting of World Bank staff will judge the entries based on originality, creativity/innovation, and sustainability of solutions. The panel will select 10 entries that will be posted online in January/February 2022 for a global audience to vote on.   

  • The five entries with the most votes will be awarded $1,000 each. The winners will be contacted in February/March 2022 via the email provided with the submission.

    Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. No transfer or substitution of a prize is permitted except by the World Bank.

  • Staff, contractors and vendors of the World Bank Group (the World Bank Group consists of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the International Finance Corporation and the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes), the members of the Evaluation and Finalist Judging Panel or any company or individual involved with the design, production, execution or distribution of the competition and their immediate family members (spouses, parents and step-parents, siblings and step-siblings, and children and step-children, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews) are not eligible to join the competition.  

    By submitting an entry, you are giving your consent to the World Bank to use your name, quotes from your submission, or reproduction(s) of your photo/video, in part or in whole, in its media activities, publications, and on its websites and social media channels and without expectation of compensation or other remuneration, now or in the future. Rights to edit copy where the publishers deem necessary is reserved, although entrants will be fully credited.

    There is no fee payable to enter the competition.

    The 10 submissions posted online for voting are public and not private communications. The World Bank is not responsible for (i) any incorrect or inaccurate information used in connection with the social media campaign; or (ii) failures or errors which may occur in the administration of the social media campaign.

    To the fullest extent permitted by law, The World Bank excludes liability and entrants agree to release and hold harmless The World Bank for any damage, loss, liability or injury to person or property or for any claim arising as a result of your entry into the competition.

    By submitting an entry, you grant the Bank exclusive, perpetual, royalty free and worldwide permission to use and publicly display, use in printed publications of the World Bank, its social media platforms, its websites, or in any other media with appropriate attribution to you as the owner of the entry. The World Bank has the sole discretion to use or not use an entry, or to take down an entry already posted to any of its digital channels.

    All Bank decisions are final and unappealable.

    You represent and warrant that you are the rightful owner of the entry and of all rights associated with the entry; that you have (a) not infringed on any third-party rights, including copyrights, trademarks, industrial property, trade secrets, confidentiality obligations and rights of privacy and publicity, and have the necessary written release(s) or permission(s) to use any third-party rights or intellectual property (b) not violated any applicable law(s) in any countries in the world. By entering this competition, you agree that the Bank has the right to verify your country of residence as well as the ownership and originality of any entry and that upon request, you shall submit a written copy of any release or permission you have received from a third-party granting. If an entry is selected as a winning entry, and the submitter’s country of residence, ownership rights and the originality of an entry cannot be verified, the Bank may select an alternate winner. All Bank decisions are final.

    By submitting an entry, you accept and agree with these terms and conditions. Do not submit an entry if you disagree with these terms and conditions.

    Preservation of Immunities: Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or a waiver of the privileges and immunities of the World Bank which are specifically reserved.

    The promoter is the World Bank of 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433.

  • To participate in this competition, the World Bank will collect personal details pertaining to name, age, email, Twitter and/or Instagram handle, and country of residence to administer the social media campaign. This data will be destroyed two (2) years after the end of the competition. The World Bank will process your details in accordance with our Privacy Notice. The 10 videos or pictures selected for voting will be published online together with the submitter’s name, country of residence, and Twitter and/or Instagram handle. By entering this competition, you agree to World Bank’s use of your entry and processing of your personal data.