By Tony Wafula, Bungoma
In a world increasingly shaped by climate change and water insecurity, powerful storytelling is not just about art it’s about impact.
And for Kenyan photojournalist Dishon Amanya, that impact is now globally recognized. His photo, titled “Community Resilience Water Access Solutions in Times of Drought,” was named winner in the Governance Solutions category of the international photo competition Solutions that Inspire Change 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 competition drew 135 entries from 59 countries, with participants capturing innovative approaches to tackling water scarcity, drought and land degradation through photography.
But it was Amanya’s visual narrative rooted in Kenya’s lived reality that stood out for its portrayal of equity, policy impact and community resilience.
His winning photograph captures a moment many rural communities know too well, resident’s young and old gathering at a communal water point, securing one of life’s most essential resources during a dry spell.
But beneath the surface of this quiet, 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,” he added.
From subsidized boreholes and rural water supply initiatives to strategic community planning, the photo illustrates the intersection between governance and climate resilience.
In a time when drought is no longer an occasional crisis but a persistent reality, such solutions are vital.
Amanya’s work not only captures the outcome of such initiatives but also brings attention to inclusive governance where local leaders, institutions and citizens co-create sustainable responses.
This award winning photograph now joins the global gallery of resilience, showcased at the UNCCD headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and featured in an online exhibition on the UNCCD Communities of Learning and Practice platform.
It’s recognition of storytelling that informs and inspires not only about challenges but about the change that’s already underway.
Amanya, who has built a name documenting environmental and social issues across Kenya and East Africa, says this recognition strengthens his commitment to journalism that champions underreported realities.
“I hope this image remind leaders, donors and even 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,” he said.
