How we work

Research helps us achieve our vision of a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and where people with disabilities participate equally in society.

Putting research findings into practice

Doing research and sharing findings, no matter how compelling they might be, is not enough to have a real impact on lives. Sightsavers’ research strategy aims to closely integrate research and programmes at every stage – from generating research questions through to ensuring findings are used to inform decisions.

Other teams across the organisation play a significant role in the implementation of our research. Our country offices and thematic technical experts in eye health, neglected tropical diseases, education and social inclusion help to identify research questions and programme-specific knowledge gaps. Our policy and advocacy team lead on developing recommendations arising from new research, while a new team of global advisers dedicated to research uptake and learning work ensure that our research has an even greater impact.

Our research strategy governs everything we do

Inform programmes

Keep up to date with existing evidence and ensure its effective use in our programmes and advocacy.

Generate evidence

Conduct high quality research to generate new evidence that can address global knowledge gaps.

Build partnerships

Build organisational capacity and effective partnerships to generate, understand and use research evidence.

Share findings

Ensure effective dissemination of research findings within and outside the organisation.

Partnership and collaboration

To increase our impact, all our research projects are conducted in partnership with academic institutions, government entities and ministries of health in the countries where we work. Our staff are an integral part of the research design and implementation, and are involved in all stages of the research process.

We are seeking to expand our research partnerships, particularly in new research areas and in the countries where we work, and collaborate with other international non-governmental organisations.

Key principles guiding our research

Sightsavers’ research strategy is complemented by our research governance framework outlining the guiding principles and processes we apply to all our research. This covers study protocols and methods, the tools we use, internationally accepted principles and procedures, training, and safeguards around participation, independence and inclusion. Our research is also subject to wider organisational policies and standards as set out on our policies page.

Our impact

Our research also helps us to measure the impact of our programmes and ensure they meet the needs of the people they are designed to serve. For instance, our eye health research shows how Sightsavers has helped to reduce levels of blindness in northern Mozambique.

Our impact in Mozambique