About The Alliance
An Australian-Based Organisation with International Members
The NGO Photographers Alliance is a collective of photographers, writers, social activists, humanitarians and other creatives whose common bond is a shared interest in photography relating to the NGO world. The NGOPAlliance functions as an agency connecting photographers with NGOs & other non-profits worldwide and strives to bring together NGOs with photographers containing the relevant skillsets, experience and technical knowhow to fulfill all their media needs.
In addition, the NGOPAlliance is the leading organisation and the first to offer a specialised photography program in the field of NGO and ethical photography. Our flagship program is the Mentorship Program in NGO Photography whereby participants are embedded with a partner NGO where they are able to observe and participate in the activities of the NGO, whilst an on-hand mentor provides guidance in the field of social and humanitarian photography.
We are always open to hearing from fellow humanitarians and photographers who have ideas to help expand our programs.
Collaborate with the NGO Photographers Alliance
AUSTRALIAN BASED, GLOBAL TEAM, INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
VISION OF THE ALLIANCE
The field of NGO work is a vast and interconnected world, relying on the resources and abilities of individuals to bring about positive change. In supporting its members, the NGO Photographers Alliance promotes strategies that develop the following:
Knowledge
To build the necessary skills and knowledge to understand what NGOs are looking for in photographers;
Skills
Developing the technical as well as practical skills required for this specific field of work;
Ethics
To understand issues of ethics concerning the developing world;
Understanding
Realising and anticipating the challenges that comes with working as an NGO photographer.
Above all, we emphasize the notion of "photography with empathy,"
an understanding that photography can be used as a powerful medium to elicit a better change in the world if told through a humanly and interconnected approach.
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MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The centerpiece of the NGO Photographers Alliance is a Mentorship program whereby participants are embedded within an affiliated NGO and contribute to the activities of the organisation whilst being taught photography skills specific for the NGO environment under the guidance of an experienced in-country mentor. Participation to the Mentorship program requires signing up at least three weeks before the commencement of the selected program and costs for participants will vary according to the location and specific requirements of each NGO. Each program is run in a different country depending on the location of the NGO affiliated with the Alliance; for further information, please refer to the Mentorship page for upcoming programs.
WHAT IS A NGO?
NGO stands for "non-governmental organisation" and is used to describe any non-profit organisation or voluntary group that operate independently of government entities. NGOs can have any number of objectives, including fighting against global poverty, promoting developmental initiatives, protecting the environment and working in the defense of human rights. Some widely known NGOs include the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, Greenpeace and World Vision. Regardless of their function, the common denominator for all NGOs are their non-profit status regardless of their structure or type.
HOW WE HELP NGOs
The NGO Photographers Alliance support NGOs that demonstrate 5 core aspects: ethical approach, sustainability, capacity-building, community involvement, and result acquisition. In particular, we take a keen interest in promoting the work of NGOs that are involved in protecting the human rights of those who may be socially, politically or culturally disadvantaged. The NGO Photographers Alliance is not a NGO itself; we support NGOs who directly act as a link for us with the local communities or local initiatives that they support. Our primary method is to provide media material for our partner NGOs at no cost which is freely available for their use, provided the use of such material serves to further their own objectives.
PARTNER WITH US
For organisations: The NGO Photographers Alliance relies on partnerships and cross-collaboration in enhancing the programs which the Alliance operates, whilst providing support where it can to promote the goals of other organisations. Please contact us to discuss partnership or collaborative opportunities.
For individuals: Stay connected and follow our social media accounts for future openings and up to date news about the latest Alliance events. Alternatively, to submit an expression of interest, contact us with a link to your portfolio and let us know how you can help us expand our programs.