Our research focuses on eye health, neglected tropical diseases, education and social inclusion. We use the evidence we generate to inform Sightsavers’ programmes in the countries where we work.
Sightsavers holds Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status. We are one of the only international non-governmental organisations to hold this status in the UK. As an IRO, we are eligible for grants from the seven UK research councils, including the Medical Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.
Our research team is made up of more than 30 people based around the world, with skills ranging from epidemiology and economics to geographic information system mapping and community-based participatory research. Our research activities also extend beyond the team, involving many more people across the organisation as well as our partners.
The immediate goal of research at Sightsavers is to generate evidence that our programme teams can use to improve lives around the world.
We use community-based participatory research approaches which can help break down social injustice and power structures. In our NTD research, we’ve trained frontline health care workers and people living with NTDs to be ‘co-researchers’, and we use local artwork to help bring findings to life for the benefit of people with NTDs, researchers and programme planners.
Find out more about how we’ve been using participatory research to improve people’s lives as part of the COUNTDOWN programme.