Energy Community Secretariat and GIZ launch Women in Energy Photo Contest  

The contest is open to women working in the energy sector and having their long-term residence in one of the Energy Community Contracting Parties: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, or Ukraine. 

Eligible applicants include women working in technical, operational, field-based, engineering, regulatory, policy, research and management roles. The submitted photograph must represent the applicant’s own professional story, experience or journey and should capture a real energy-sector working environment.

The 10 selected winners will receive international visibility through the exhibition of their photographs at the Just Transition Forum in Podgorica on 20 October 2026, joined by up to 120 international stakeholders from the sector and beyond. The exhibition can be showcased at other regional and international events. The three main prize winners will also benefit from dedicated communication and outreach through the Energy Community and GIZ networks, including among others, a featured interview and promotion through institutional communication channels. 

The three main prize winners will also be offered the opportunity to choose between: 

• reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs of up to EUR 500 to attend the Just Transition Forum, providing a platform to present their stories and connect with key stakeholders; or  

• reimbursement of up to EUR 500 for participation in an energy-related capacity-building training course of their choice to support their professional development.

Applicants must submit their photograph(s) together with the completed application form (Word or PDF format). Submitted photographs must: 

• be provided in JPEG or PNG format;  

• have a minimum resolution of ideally 3000 pixels on the longest side or a file size of at least 2 MB;  

• photos should be suitable for printing in A3 or A2 format. 

• be submitted in landscape, portrait or square format;  

• be either colour or black-and-white.  

• Basic editing, such as cropping, exposure and contrast correction, is permitted. Heavy manipulation, filters, composites, AI-generated content or the addition or removal of elements are not allowed. 

Submissions will be evaluated based on: 

• Authenticity – whether the photograph captures a real woman in a real energy-sector working environment;  

• Storytelling power – whether the image communicates a compelling story about women’s roles in energy;  

• Visibility – whether it challenges stereotypes about who works in the energy sector;  

• Representation of diverse perspectives – whether it highlights less visible roles, occupations, workplaces, regions or career pathways;  

• Visual quality – whether the photograph is clear, impactful and suitable for exhibition;  

• Relevance to the energy transition – whether it connects to themes such as clean energy, security of supply, just transition, innovation, energy efficiency or climate action.