Research | Sightsavers

High-quality research is critical to help us deliver our strategy and programmes in the countries where we work.

Sightsavers conducts research in eye health, neglected tropical diseases, education and social inclusion.

The main aim of our research is to generate evidence that our programme teams can use to continue improving lives in Africa and Asia.

Our in-house research team is comprised of 25 people based around the world, with skills ranging from epidemiology and economics to community-based participatory research and evidence synthesis. Our research activities also involve many programme and technical staff across the organisation.

Collaboration with a broad range of research partners and funders is key to developing research capacity both within Sightsavers and among our partners, and we continue to strive to extend our networks in the countries where we work.

In 2017, Sightsavers was awarded Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status, making us one of a few non-governmental organisations to hold this status in the UK.

Watch the video below to find out more about our research.

Key objectives in our strategy

Generate evidence

Conduct research in response to global knowledge gaps and the needs of our programmes.

Support our programmes

Maintain effective knowledge systems to integrate learning into our projects and influencing.

Share new findings

Ensure effective communication of our research findings through various channels.

Keep innovating and developing

Use digital technology to enhance our programmes and improve the way we conduct research.

Explore our research studies and publications

Visit the research website

More about our research

Steven Kaindaneh and Alexandre Chailloux.

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

Maps have played a key part in ensuring the voices and experiences of children with disabilities can guide our work to address school-related gender-based violence.

Sightsavers, August 2025

Minahil, who wears spectacles, smiles broadly as she sits at her classroom desk.

News / Education /

We attended the conference in Chicago on 22-26 March to share Sightsavers’ expertise, engage with the education community and explore how we can help to transform inclusive education.

March 2025

Portrait pictures of Sightsavers' researchers.

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

Dr Steven Kaindaneh and Dr Julia de Kadt explain how our new research puts children with disabilities at the centre of efforts to combat gender-based violence.

Sightsavers, December 2024

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Our research