NGOs and Civil Society

Mobilising for Collective Impact

The Global Summit for Eye Health is a landmark moment for the global development community. Hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in technical collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by IAPB, the Summit is the primary platform to turn the 2030 In Sight Strategy into reality.

Whether you are a specialist eye health NGO or a broader development partner working in education, gender equity, or poverty alleviation, the Summit is your opportunity to help make the world see the value of vision.

Make a Landmark Commitment

The Summit represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we invite NGOs and international institutions, from within the eye health sector and from the development community, to be part of it by making a commitment.

A commitment is a formal public pledge made by a government official or body to take specific actions, allocate resources, or achieve measurable targets in pursuit of ending avoidable sight loss. It is a clear expression of political will and a benchmark for accountability. Your parallel commitment will help reach the one billion people currently without access to care.

Commitments can cover anything in the eye health ecosystem, but we encourage commitments to be aligned with our evidence-based six accelerators:

1. Expand Screenings in the Community

• Integrating simple, effective sight testing into broader community and school health programmes.

2. Give Out Reading Glasses on the Spot

• Empower community screeners to hand out ready-made reading glasses right after screening.

3. Increase Capacity in the Workforce

• Supporting the training and mentorship of mid-level eye care professionals and embracing tele-refraction.

4. Boost Surgical Productivity and Teams

• Improve workflow and equipment to boost surgical output by 40-50%.

5. Remove Barriers to Access

• Address cost, distance, and stigma through targeted local campaigns.

6. Make Cataract Surgery Even Better

• Implementing workflow innovations and kit improvements to safely increase surgical output.

To ensure your commitment has maximum impact, please refer to the Global Summit for Eye Health Commitment Guidance, a dedicated guide for the eye health sector to help frame your goals.

See some example commitments.

For additional support designing your commitment, please contact rachael@eyehealthsummit.org

Expert Advocacy: Engaging Your Government

As a respected professional, your voice carries unique weight with decision-makers. National governments are more likely to commit to the Summit’s goals when they see their own clinical experts championing the cause.

As an advocate your roles is to help your Ministry of Health understand that eye health is a “whole-of-government” issue that impacts education and the economy. However, to ensure our global message remains unified and powerful, it is essential that these advocacy efforts are coordinated through the IAPB. This work is led by a governance group of the IAPB board called the Political and Institutional Engagement Group

If you are looking to engage with government officials regarding the Summit, please get in touch with the Global Summit Team at info@eyehealthsummit.org 
 
If your institution or members body is a member of IAPB, you can access our Political and Institutional Engagement Group via your IAPB regional lead.