What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

These goals, also known as the SDGs, aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for everyone by 2030. At Sightsavers, we make sure all our work helps to achieve these goals.

Nearly all the countries in the world have promised to improve the planet and the lives of its citizens by 2030.

They’ve committed themselves to 17 life-changing goals, outlined by the UN in 2015. These targets, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), include ending extreme poverty, giving people better health care, and achieving equality for women.

The aim is for all countries to work together to ensure no one is left behind. Here you can read about the goals and learn how Sightsavers is helping to achieve them.

How Sightsavers is working towards the SDGs

A young girl smiles as she stands in a classroom.

Campaigning

Our Equal World campaign calls for the UN and its member states to uphold disability rights.
Join our campaign

Students walk across the playground outside their inclusive education school. One puts his arm on his friend's back.

Disability and inclusion

We want to ensure that education, health care and employment opportunities are available to all.
Our disability and inclusion work

A male eye health worker in Pakistan uses a torch to check a woman's eyes for signs of advanced trachoma.

Eliminating diseases

We have ambitious plans to eliminate trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases.
Diseases we treat and prevent

Sightsavers’ work directly contributes to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Goal 1: No poverty
We ensure people stay healthy so they are able to work, enabling them to earn money to support themselves and their families.

Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing
We provide eye care in some of the world’s poorest countries, ensuring people can be treated for eye conditions.

Goal 4: Quality education
Our education programmes aim to ensure that all children, including those with disabilities, are able to go to school.

Goal 5: Gender equality
We strive for gender equality in all our programmes, right from the planning stages, to make sure we are as equitable as possible.

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
We promote good hygiene to help eliminate neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma and river blindness.

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Our Equal World campaign promotes equality for people with disabilities, to ensure their rights are upheld.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
We work in partnership with local, national and international organisations, governments and NGOs.

Sightsavers’ research is tied to achieving the goals

About our research

More about the Sustainable Development Goals

A woman in a green dust coat inspects sorghum plants in a field.

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

Significant progress is still needed to tackle longstanding inequalities and wage gaps for people with disabilities. Here's how Sightsavers is taking action.

Joe Buckley, May 2025

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Sightsavers' Ross Gilligan stand together holding a copy of Sightsavers' Changing Times newspaper. They are standing in front of Sightsavers' stand at the Labour party conference.

News / Disability and inclusion /

Sightsavers engaged with some key political leaders at the event in Liverpool.

September 2024

Hortance stands alongside a man at a Sightsavers event stand.

Blogs / Eye health /

Sightsavers’ Hortance Manjo shares insights from the event in Zambia, which highlighted eye health for the first time.

Hortance Manjo, January 2024

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

These goals, also known as the SDGs, aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for everyone by 2030. At Sightsavers, we make sure all our work helps to achieve these goals.