…Amanya’s winning photograph captures a poignant moment: residents gathering at a communal water point during a dry spell.
Dishon Amanya, a renowned Kenyan photojournalist, has earned international recognition for his powerful photo essay on water resilience, The iNews Times reports.
His photograph, “Community Resilience – Water Access Solutions in Times of Drought,” won the Governance Solutions category in the Solutions that Inspire Change competition, a joint initiative by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Global Water Partnership (GWP), and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA).
The iNews Times learnt that the competition attracted 135 entries from 59 countries, showcasing innovative approaches to tackling water scarcity, drought, and land degradation through photography.
Amanya’s visual narrative, rooted in Kenya’s lived reality, stood out for its portrayal of equity, policy impact, and community resilience.
Amanya’s winning photograph captures a poignant moment: residents gathering at a communal water point during a dry spell.
However, beneath this everyday scene lies a deeper story about policy, leadership, and survival. “This image is about more than people fetching water,” Amanya explains. “It’s about how well-governed systems, community-led and supported by public policy, can save lives and ensure dignity during drought.”
The photograph highlights the intersection between governance and climate resilience, showcasing initiatives such as subsidized boreholes, rural water supply projects, and strategic community planning.
These solutions are vital in a time when drought is a persistent reality.
The award-winning photograph will be showcased at the UNCCD headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and featured in an online exhibition on the UNCCD Communities of Learning and Practice platform.
This recognition strengthens Amanya’s commitment to journalism that champions underreported realities.
“I hope this image reminds leaders, donors, and fellow journalists that the real heroes of climate resilience are in these communities doing the work, adapting every day, and hoping the world pays attention,” Amanya told The iNews Times.
Through his lens, Amanya turns a moment into a movement, framing drought not just as a threat, but as a test of shared humanity and the will to adapt together, iNews Times reports.
