Resources on influencing policy

Levels of Influence framework

The Levels of Influence framework is Sightsavers’ monitoring approach to set out the policy influencing objectives in our projects, and to measure and report progress towards them.

• Levels of Influence framework: Sightsavers’ approach (pdf)
• How to monitor progress towards policy influencing using the Levels of Influence framework (pdf)

Our approach is based on the idea that progress towards our policy and objectives, although context specific, will loosely follow the same six stages:

Level 1: Planning
Identification and presentation of clear policy influencing objectives through the development of an advocacy plan and budget.

Level 2: Understanding
Government stakeholders understand our policy influencing objectives, for example through Sightsavers developing and sharing policy briefs.

Level 3: Engagement and acceptance
Government stakeholders demonstrate a willingness to engage and accept input from civil society, and take ownership of the issue, for example a Ministry of Health reviewing recommendations on their health policy submitted by organisations for people with disabilities (OPDs).

Level 4: Commitment
Government stakeholders commit to implementing the changes which Sightsavers and OPDs have been advocating for, for example a government committing to ratify the African Disability Protocol.

Level 5: Delivery
Government stakeholders deliver the policies and make the changes that they have committed to, for example a government ratifying the Marrakesh Treaty and revising its copyright laws to make printed materials accessible for people with blindness or visual impairment.

Level 6: Reflection
Assessment of policy influencing achievements, and any lessons learned to be applied in future projects and advocacy plans.

Guide to advocacy

Influencing public policy change at Sightsavers is a global, organisational wide effort delivered by country offices and global teams. Country offices lead our national and local level influencing, alongside partner organisations. In this handbook, we focus on the advocacy taken forward by country offices both within and outside of programmes.
Read our guide to advocacy (pdf)

Contribution analysis

In 2024, Sightsavers piloted contribution analysis as a new approach to the evaluation of policy influencing work. The analysis focuses on the revision to the electoral code in Senegal in 2021 and the introduction of an eye health policy in Sierra Leone in 2022, exploring the role of Sightsavers as well as other stakeholders and factors which enabled these policy changes.

• Read contribution analysis (pdf)
• Read reflections on contribution analysis (pdf)

Disability-inclusive approach to social accountability (DASA): a practical guide

This resource is for organisations of people with disabilities, civil society organisations, practitioners and government stakeholders committed to advancing disability rights and inclusion. It offers a step-by-step methodology for reviewing policies, generating evidence through participatory scorecards, and developing joint action plans that strengthen accountability and improve outcomes for people with disabilities, particularly women and girls.
Read the DASA guide (pdf)

Inclusive disaster risk reduction planning

The Hear Me, See Me project was a flagship initiative led by Sightsavers, Lensational and the Gifted Community Centre. The project used the disability-inclusive social accountability approach to help amplify the voices of women with disabilities in disaster risk reduction in Kenya.

• Read guide on disaster risk reduction in Kenya
• Read policy brief on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction