See 15 striking photos that symbolise hope – Prix Pictet

12 of the world's best photographers have been shortlisted for the eighth annual Prix Pictet, with all of the images tackling hope in one form or another

Alexia Webster: Two friends, names not given, posing for their portrait on the corner of Cornwell and Hercules Street in Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa, 2011. From the series StreetStudios, 2011–2018 © Alexia Webster, Prix Pictet

Ivor Prickett: Civilians who had remained in west Mosul during the battle to retake the city, lined up for an aid distribution in the Mamun neighbourhood. Iraq, March 2017. From the series: End of the Caliphate, 2016–2018. © Ivor Prickett, The New York Times

Ivor Prickett: Nadhira Aziz looked on as Iraqi Civil Defence workers dug out the bodies of her sister and niece from her house in the Old City of Mosul, where they were killed by an airstrike in June2017.Iraq,September 2017. From the series:End of the Caliphate, 2016–2018 © Ivor Prickett,The New York Times

Awoiska Van derMolen: #384-16, 2013. From the Series: Imschwarzen Himmelsrund, 2009–18 ©Awoiska Van der Molen, Prix Pictet

Gideon Mendel: Original Image: Rally welcoming SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma on the day that he returned to Namibia after thirty years’ exile. September 1989. Scanned and reframed after accidental water and mould damage in 2016. From the series:Damage: A Testament of Faded Memory, 2016 © GideonMendel, Prix Pictet

Gideon Mendel: Original Image: Protestors outside Cosatu House, after a May Day Rally in which the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) called for a nationwide ‘stayaway’ and protest by workers. May 1986. Scanned and reframed after accidental water and mould damage in 2016. 2016. From the series: Damage:A Testament of Faded Memory, 2016©Gideon Mendel, Prix Pictet

Janelle Lynch: Summer Wreath,2017.From the series: Another Way of Looking at Love, 2015-2018 © Janelle Lynch, Prix Pictet

Joana Choumali: Untitled, 2019. From the series: Ça va aller, 2016-19 © Joana Choumali, Prix Pictet

Lucas Foglia: Esme Swimming, Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore, 2014. From the series: Human Nature, 2006–2019 © LucasFoglia, Prix Pictet

Lucas Foglia: Kate in an EEG. Study of Cognition in the Wild, Utah, 2015. From the series: Human Nature, 2006–2019 © Lucas Foglia, Prix Pictet

Margaret Courtney-Clarke: Life is Them. Emsi Tjambiru and Beverly Tjivinde dance on the road near their craft stall to flag down tourist busses, 2017. From the series: Cry Sadness into the Coming Rain, 2014–2018 © Margaret Courtney-Clarke, PrixPictet

Rena Effendi: The whole Borca family, from Breb village, puts finishing touches on one of the 40 haystacks it makes each summer in Maramures, Romania, 2012. From the series: Transylvania: Builton Grass, 2012 © Rena Effendi, Prix Pictet

Rena Effendi: The Borca family relaxes after a working day that started early. Gheorghe and Anuța Borcawere married in July 1995, in the middle of the grass-cutting season. The honeymoon had to be shortened. “We started making hay again one week after the wedding,” Anuța says ruefully. This photograph was made in Maramureș, the Romanian-speaking part of northern Transylvania, 2012. From the series:Transylvania: Built on Grass,2012© Rena Effendi, Prix Pictet

Robin Rhode: Evergreen (Selected still 1), 2017. From the series: Principle of Hope, 2017 © Robin Rhode, Prix Pictet

Ross McDonnell: Limbs No. 1, 2012. From the series: Limbs, 2012 © Ross McDonnell, Prix Pictet

In November, one photographer will win the Prix Pictet, and be granted 100,000 Swiss francs (Dh370,000) as part of the honour. Now in its eighth year, the prize is widely considered the most prestigious award in the world of photography.

The prize runs on an 18 month cycle, and so is awarded every year and a half. The theme of this year's competition is 'Hope'.

The Prix Pictet's Honorary Founding President Kofi Annan died last year, but his passions have propelled this year's theme, and his words on the topic are being lauded as inspiration for the judges: “Perhaps in our ability to carry on in adversity lies hope for us all. Hope that, despite the catastrophic damage that we have visited upon the natural world and upon the lives our most vulnerable citizens, it is not too late to reverse the damage that we have done.”

The photographer whose work speaks most powerfully to the theme will win the prize. This year's shortlist is made up of twelve photographers from eight countries and four continents:

Shahidul Alam: born 1955 Bangladesh, based in Dhaka

Joana Choumali: born 1974 Côte d'Ivoire, based in Abidjan

Margaret Courtney-Clarke: born 1949 Namibia, based in Swakopmund

Rena Effendi: born 1977 Baku, based in Istanbul

Lucas Foglia: born 1983 USA, based in San Francisco

Janelle Lynch: born 1969 USA, based in New York

Ross McDonnell: born 1979 Ireland, based in New York

Gideon Mendel: born 1959 South Africa, based in London

Ivor Prickett: born 1983 Ireland, based in Europe and the Middle East

After the winner is announced, the photographs will tour a dozen countries around the globe, beginning at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.