Francesco Semprini, a veteran UN and war correspondent for La Stampa, spent over 100 days on the frontline to report on threats of a catastrophic nuclear attack in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In his 2022 winning entry, he followed IAEA inspectors and their leader Rafael Grossi to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant targeted by bombing, where Russian and Ukrainian troops face off with artillery.

Just weeks after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, Michelle Nichols broke news that the hard-line Islamist movement wanted to address the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York and appoint a UN ambassador. In her other report with a colleague Emma Farge based in Geneva, Michelle took readers behind the scenes at the United Nations to explain why Western-led action against Russia over its war in Ukraine had waned six months after the invasion.

Berlin, one of Europe’s top tech cities, has become the home of a new permanent pandemic preparedness hub amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In her article, Stephanie Fillion showed how WHO selected Berlin for geopolitical and financial reasons and how the organization struggled from the onset of the deadly virus in early 2020. She reported how the new hub will profit from German cutting-edge technology and its multidisciplinary approach to analyze data and help prevent the next pandemic.

• foreignpolicy.com profile

Emilio Godoy has covered ramifications of the climate crisis in Mexico while holding the government to account. He has reported on critical mangrove restoration projects undertaken without state support, the insufficient measures in the fight against methane and a perilous bet on liquified gas. He reports for InterPress Service from Mexico, where journalists face considerable dangers in carrying out their investigations.

Reporting for Asia Times and TRT World, Kourosh Ziabari wrote on the water crisis in Iran. His eye-opening report analyzes the shrinking of the saltwater Lake Urmia as a result of controversial dam projects and policies, spotlighting widespread protests against state mismanagement.

Samaan Lateef reports of the climate crisis in Pakistan, Afghanistan and his India for the Telegraph UK, DW Germany and other major outlets. In addition to accounts on the unprecedented heatwave in India and flooding in Pakistan, he provided unique coverage of environmental issues threatening economic life in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Mohamed Saliou Camara is an investigative reporter specializing in health and environmental issues. He provides analytical accounts on problems in African countries faced with climate change focusing on how climate crisis is not a single state’s problem but globally interconnected.

Samuel Agyemang uses the power of television and YouTube to promote the African Continent Free Trade Agreement with international financial support and guidance from UN agencies, such as UNDP. YouTube clips depict interaction between African and foreign leaders touting free trade as a tool to build peace and foster regional and economic integration on the African continent

Rania Farhan gives voice to the women facing exploitation and negligence at home and in the workplace. This newly-formed agency will publish these accounts in Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Turkish and English with the hopes of launching a uniting platform.