Influencing policy

Sightsavers works with governments and organisations to help shape and enact policy in health, education and inclusion at all levels of governance.

Sightsavers’ Godwin Kabalika (right) with the World Health Organization’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

At Sightsavers, influencing policy change is a global priority. It aims to improve eye health, education, social inclusion, economic empowerment and neglected tropical diseases.

More than 1.3 billion people worldwide have a disability, but they are often denied their basic rights and excluded from decision-making processes. Sightsavers’ drive to influence policy aims to improve life for everyone, particularly people with disabilities. This work is delivered by our country offices, policy and advocacy team, campaigns team and other technical teams.

We promote international frameworks and treaties such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We also provide technical support to governments, enabling them to adopt laws and policies that help them to fulfil their commitments and ensure no one is left behind. Our partnerships with other organisations help us promote and advance inclusive policies around the world.

How we advocate for disability inclusion

Four panellists listen to a woman speaking into a microphone. One man wears sunglasses for a visual impairment.

Campaigning

We campaign for disability rights to be upheld to help create a more equal world. We do this by engaging at local, national, regional and global levels to call for change.
Learn about our campaigning

A woman and man with crutches high-five each other.

Technical support

We help governments ensure their policies are inclusive, and we help strengthen organisations of people with disabilities so they can hold their governments to account.
Our inclusive citizenship work

Carine, a council data collector, speaks to Godjon outside her home in Nkoteng, Cameroon.

Inclusive data

We promote inclusive data so governments collect and use accurate information about people with disabilities, which can help inform policy and decision-making.
About inclusive data

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Our work on inclusive education

Two school students in Zambia huddle together at a desk. One is writing, the other is looking at the work.

Shaping policy

We influence global and national debates, policies and practice to ensure decisions on education are inclusive for all students, particularly those with disabilities.
About inclusive education

Inclusive education teacher Ms Musondo at her desk.

Advocating for change

We advise governments on inclusive education policies and advocate for education systems that include students with disabilities in mainstream learning.
Our education work in Zambia

Steven Kaindaneh stands next to a screen during his presentation at the 2025 CIES conference.

Promoting inclusion

We work with organisations to promote inclusive education and call for action at a global level by attending events such as the annual CIES conference.
Sightsavers at CIES 2025

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How we’re making health care more inclusive

Three smartly dressed people laugh at the conference.

We advocate for stronger commitments, call for action to address health inequities and demand accessible and inclusive services for people with disabilities.
About inclusive health

Community volunteer dispenser, John standing outside with his dose pole and sign.

Engaging with WHO

We participate in the World Health Assembly and its regional committees, and provide expert input into World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on eye health and diseases.
How we’re shaping global eye care

$A female student wears eye test glasses during a refractive error examination.$

Working in partnership

We work with partners through the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and support the work of the UN’s Friends of Vision.
About UN Friends of Vision

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We fight for equality for people with disabilities

Support our campaign work

Key policy influencing achievements

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution ‘Vision for Everyone’, which placed eye health as key to achieving the SDGs for the first time
Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uganda and Zimbabwe agreed to the Marrakesh Treaty by providing published materials for people with vision loss
Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda ratified the African Disability Protocol
Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Cameroon became champions of the Inclusive Data Charter
Kenya, Pakistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe integrated the Washington Group Questions on disability into their censuses
Pakistan and Bangladesh introduced questions on disability into their labour force surveys

More about influencing policy

A mother and her young daughter hug and smile.

Blogs / Eye health /

Eye health has an impact on numerous Sustainable Development Goals, and has a ripple effect that improves gender equity, education, economic and health outcomes.

Fiona Lawless, December 2023

In a village in Mozambique, two people in blue polo shirts hold clipboards and talk to members of the local community.

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

We spoke to Dominic Haslam, Sightsavers’ director of policy and programme strategy, about the launch of our second Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan and how it reaffirms our commitment to inclusive data.

Sightsavers, November 2023

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

As learners with disabilities are disproportionately affected by global crises such as climate change, we're urging governments to build more resilient education systems for everyone.

Mariana Rudge, September 2023

Blogs / Women and girls /

The event served as a platform for myself and other Sightsavers colleagues to engage in discussions about how to dismantle barriers and tackle the obstacles impeding progress around women’s rights.

Hannah Dawson, September 2023

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

In my years as a disability advocate, I’ve learned that getting angry needs to be accompanied by getting active. We wanted to advise organisations on how to do better to include women and girls with disabilities.

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, July 2023

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

Sightsavers’ Saleck Ould Dah and Ujala Sarfaraz highlight two key issues around disability inclusion that are hampering efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sightsavers, June 2023

Protecting sight, fighting disease and promoting equality for all

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

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Influencing policy