The END Fund and African Women in Photography Announce Commissions for Lens-Based Works Exploring the Impact of NTDs on Women and Girls in Africa
Five selected artists will create a collective body of works centered on the lived experiences of African women and girls affected by NTDs.
(New York, NY) – The END Fund, together with African Women in Photography (AWP), announced today the five recipients of its commission for lens-based works highlighting the lived experiences of women and girls affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) across the END Fund’s program countries in Africa. AWP is an organization dedicated to elevating and celebrating the work of women and nonbinary photographers from Africa.
The five recipients were selected based on their compelling proposals and include a mix of fine art and documentary photography. These projects will form a powerful new body of work that aims to raise awareness of the unique challenges women and girls face in accessing NTD prevention and treatment, the profound impact NTDs can have on their lives and livelihoods with regard to health, education, economic opportunities, and social standing, as well as their resilience in overcoming both environmental and societal barriers.
“The selected artists each have a remarkable vision that is grounded in bridging the gap between art and advocacy to highlight the issue of NTDs in Africa,” said Sarah Waiswa, founder of African Women in Photography. “Once completed, these works will elevate female voices—both of the artists and their subjects—that too often go unheard yet are disproportionately impacted by these debilitating diseases. I’m excited to see these works brought to life and the impact they will have on the global conversation around NTDs.”
Each commissioned artist will receive a grant from the END Fund to support the development, production, and final delivery of their projects. Photographers will also receive mentorship, resources, and support from AWP and its network of established practitioners throughout the project.
“At the END Fund, we believe storytelling is a powerful tool in achieving our global goal to end NTDs, as it enables audiences to connect with the personal realities of those affected by these devastating diseases,” said Dr. Solomon Zewdu, Chief Executive Officer, the END Fund. “Our partnership with African Women in Photography is a continuation of this longstanding belief, with its final product bringing new potential to raise awareness, inspire conversations, and spark action.”
The artists were selected from more than 70 applications through an internal process that included review of submissions by a panel of jurors with extensive backgrounds in photography. The new body of work is anticipated to premiere in 2026.
The selected artists include:
- Temiloluwa Johnson – Nigeria
- Maureen Gathoni – Kenya
- Maheder Haileselassie – Ethiopia
- Jodi Windvogel – South Africa
- Amarachi Nnoli – Ghana
The END Fund and AWP congratulate each selected artist and thank all who responded to the call for proposals. To learn more about the selected projects and to find out where the final works will be displayed, follow the END Fund and AWP on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About African Women in Photography
African Women in Photography (AWP) is an organization/community dedicated to elevating and celebrating the work of women and nonbinary photographers from Africa. Its goal is to help create opportunities for members of its community to learn through mentorship and educational programs, to work by connecting them to various funding and employment opportunities, to publish and exhibit their work by connecting them to editors and curators, and finally to provide a platform for collaboration and community building. AWP is particularly interested in supporting emerging photographers. Learn more at www.africanwomeninphotography.org.
About the END Fund
The END Fund is a private philanthropic initiative that exists to end the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The fund efficiently puts private capital to work, advocating for NTD programs that are innovative, integrated, and cost-effective. It facilitates strong partnerships with the private sector, government partners, and local implementing partners to collaboratively support national disease programs. This is done through a proven implementation model that is tailored to meet the needs of individual countries, with the view to fostering healthier communities, protected from the risks of NTDs. Since its founding in 2012, along with partners, the END Fund has distributed over one billion treatments across thirty-one countries, performed over 43,000 blindness and disability-preventing surgeries, and trained nearly 3.5 million health workers to preempt and treat NTDs. Learn more at www.end.org.
