For more than 70 years, Sightsavers has been preventing avoidable blindness and fighting for the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.
During 2023 we continued this vital work, treating millions of people for potentially blinding eye conditions and making huge progress on disability rights.
The past year has brought a variety of challenges. Conflict, political upheaval and economic instability have sent shockwaves around the world, with the potential to affect our work and income.
However, we’ve still achieved amazing things during 2023. Our loyal staff and partners, plus our dedicated supporters, mean we can continue our life-changing work even when times are tough. As well as eliminating trachoma in more countries, we’ve continued to champion disability rights and have celebrated milestone anniversaries in several countries.
We couldn’t have done any of this without your help. Read on to learn about our achievements, all made possible by you.
Our highlights from the year
Benin and Mali became the latest countries to eliminate trachoma
In May 2023, the World Health Organization confirmed that Benin and Mali had banished trachoma for good. Sightsavers has worked in both countries to protect people from the disease by distributing preventative medication, treating patients and encouraging good hygiene. Sightsavers CEO Dr Caroline Harper said: “This is a momentous day. It’s a huge achievement for the countries, and for all those people who have worked so hard to make this possible.”
Read about Benin and Mali’s achievement
Our disability rights campaign sent a message to world leaders
Our Promise in Peril petition called on world leaders to fulfil their promises to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leave no one behind, including people with disabilities. It was signed by 48,063 people from 121 countries. Equal World ambassador Abia Akram, who represented the campaign at the UN’s SDGs summit, said: “We’re really pleased that the political declaration of the SDG Summit has been adopted, as it contains explicit references to disability rights.”
Learn about the Promise in Peril petition
Three Sightsavers countries marked milestone anniversaries
Staff from our offices in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria marked decades of hard work by celebrating their countries’ significant achievements. Sightsavers Kenya and Sightsavers Nigeria each marked 70 years of work, the latter with an event in Abuja (pictured) attended by staff and government ministers. Meanwhile, Sightsavers Bangladesh marked its 50th anniversary with an event in Dhaka.
Read about the celebrations in Nigeria, Bangladesh and Kenya
Our deworming work received a $16.9 million funding boost
We were awarded a sizeable grant for our work to tackle intestinal worms, after a funding recommendation from US charity evaluator GiveWell. For the seventh year in a row, GiveWell assessed our deworming work as being highly cost-effective, and as a result, we received the grant to fund work in Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo. The grant will support our work to distribute deworming medication for school-age children.
We championed disability-inclusive feminism at the Women Deliver conference
In July 2023, Sightsavers attended the Women Deliver conference in Rwanda, to call for action to ensure women with disabilities aren’t forgotten in the women’s rights movement. The conference was attended by 6,000 people, with more than 200,000 people joining online. We ran interactive sessions and our booth showcased the stories of six women with disabilities who have defined their own place in society.
Read about the conference and hear the women’s stories
One of our Inclusive Futures programmes has been extended until 2026
The Sightsavers-led Disability Inclusive Development (DID) Inclusive Futures programme received £6 million in funding, enabling it to continue until March 2026. The DID programme brings together specialists in disability and development from more than 10 organisations. The funding will enable us to continue generating evidence about inclusion and how to encourage global action.
Visit the Inclusive Futures website
We pledged $60 million to help eliminate neglected tropical diseases
We’re investing $60 million of new funding, raised from public donations and international donors, to help beat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa. Our CEO, Caroline Harper, said: “Sightsavers has been fighting NTDs for decades, working with communities and governments in affected countries. Eliminating these diseases will have a positive impact on individuals, families and communities.”
Our highlights from the year
Benin and Mali became the latest countries to eliminate trachoma
In May 2023, the World Health Organization confirmed that Benin and Mali had banished trachoma for good. Sightsavers has worked in both countries to protect people from the disease by distributing preventative medication, treating patients and encouraging good hygiene. Sightsavers CEO Dr Caroline Harper said: “This is a momentous day. It’s a huge achievement for the countries, and for all those people who have worked so hard to make this possible.”
Read about Benin and Mali’s achievement
Our disability rights campaign sent a message to world leaders
Our Promise in Peril petition called on world leaders to fulfil their promises to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leave no one behind, including people with disabilities. It was signed by 48,063 people from 121 countries. Equal World ambassador Abia Akram, who represented the campaign at the UN’s SDGs summit, said: “We’re really pleased that the political declaration of the SDG Summit has been adopted, as it contains explicit references to disability rights.”
Learn about the Promise in Peril petition
Three Sightsavers countries marked milestone anniversaries
Staff from our offices in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria marked decades of hard work by celebrating their countries’ significant achievements. Sightsavers Kenya and Sightsavers Nigeria each marked 70 years of work, the latter with an event in Abuja (pictured) attended by staff and government ministers. Meanwhile, Sightsavers Bangladesh marked its 50th anniversary with an event in Dhaka.
Read about the celebrations in Nigeria, Bangladesh and Kenya
Our deworming work received a $16.9 million funding boost
We were awarded a sizeable grant for our work to tackle intestinal worms, after a funding recommendation from US charity evaluator GiveWell. For the seventh year in a row, GiveWell assessed our deworming work as being highly cost-effective, and as a result, we received the grant to fund work in Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo. The grant will support our work to distribute deworming medication for school-age children.
We championed disability-inclusive feminism at the Women Deliver conference
In July 2023, Sightsavers attended the Women Deliver conference in Rwanda, to call for action to ensure women with disabilities aren’t forgotten in the women’s rights movement. The conference was attended by 6,000 people, with more than 200,000 people joining online. We ran interactive sessions and our booth showcased the stories of six women with disabilities who have defined their own place in society.
Read about the conference and hear the women’s stories
One of our Inclusive Futures programmes has been extended until 2026
The Sightsavers-led Disability Inclusive Development (DID) Inclusive Futures programme received £6 million in funding, enabling it to continue until March 2026. The DID programme brings together specialists in disability and development from more than 10 organisations. The funding will enable us to continue generating evidence about inclusion and how to encourage global action.
Visit the Inclusive Futures website
We pledged $60 million to help eliminate neglected tropical diseases
We’re investing $60 million of new funding, raised from public donations and international donors, to help beat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa. Our CEO, Caroline Harper, said: “Sightsavers has been fighting NTDs for decades, working with communities and governments in affected countries. Eliminating these diseases will have a positive impact on individuals, families and communities.”
Our impact around the world
Sierra Leone
Sightsavers-trained doctor appointed deputy minister of health
Leading glaucoma surgeon Dr Jalikatu Mustapha, who trained as an ophthalmologist with Sightsavers between 2012 and 2016, was appointed as the deputy minister of health in Sierra Leone. Dr Jalikatu began her new role in July 2023. About Dr Jalikatu
Pakistan
Sightsavers film shortlisted for Cannes World Film Festival award
A film produced by Sightsavers Pakistan was shortlisted in the ‘Best health film’ category at the Cannes World Film Festival. ‘Noor’ is based on our school health programme and aims to raise awareness about the impact of good eye care. Read about the film
India
Sightsavers-supported vision centres launched in Chennai
Two eye health centres and a mobile screening clinic opened in Chennai to improve access to eye care services for thousands of people in the city’s urban areas. The clinics, funded by Standard Chartered, will screen for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors. About the vision centres
Liberia
National policy aims to transform eye care
Liberia’s Ministry of Health celebrated the launch of its first eye health policy in eight years, which will ensure eye health is a priority. The country has had no formal government-level direction for eye health since 2015, when the last policy expired. Read the Liberia blog
Bangladesh
Equal Bangladesh campaign launched to uphold disability rights
In Bangladesh, we’re calling for the National Disability Act 2013 to be implemented, to ensure disability rights are embedded into national legislation. Equal Bangladesh aims to be a powerful movement for change that will have a lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Visit the Equal Bangladesh website
Nigeria
Pioneering questionnaire used in schools to assess children’s educational needs
The SMILE project in Kaduna, Nigeria aims to promote inclusive education in mainstream schools so all children can take part. The project piloted the ‘Child Functioning Module’, a questionnaire developed by the Washington Group and UNICEF to discover if a child has difficulties with day-to-day tasks. Teacher Zachariah said: “It has given me a guide on how to support children with disabilities.” Read the SMILE blog
Kenya
New students joined our IT training programme
The latest cohort of young jobseekers with disabilities joined the IT Bridge Academy in Kenya. Through the programme, students are able to hone their IT skills and gain hands-on experience with paid internships in the sector. About the IT Bridge Academy
Our impact around the world
Sierra Leone
Sightsavers-trained doctor appointed deputy minister of health
Leading glaucoma surgeon Dr Jalikatu Mustapha, who trained as an ophthalmologist with Sightsavers between 2012 and 2016, was appointed as the deputy minister of health in Sierra Leone. Dr Jalikatu began her new role in July 2023. About Dr Jalikatu
Pakistan
Sightsavers film shortlisted for Cannes World Film Festival award
A film produced by Sightsavers Pakistan was shortlisted in the ‘Best health film’ category at the Cannes World Film Festival. ‘Noor’ is based on our school health programme and aims to raise awareness about the impact of good eye care. Read about the film
India
Sightsavers-supported vision centres launched in Chennai
Two eye health centres and a mobile screening clinic opened in Chennai to improve access to eye care services for thousands of people in the city’s urban areas. The clinics, funded by Standard Chartered, will screen for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors. About the vision centres
Liberia
National policy aims to transform eye care
Liberia’s Ministry of Health celebrated the launch of its first eye health policy in eight years, which will ensure eye health is a priority. The country has had no formal government-level direction for eye health since 2015, when the last policy expired. Read the Liberia blog
Bangladesh
Equal Bangladesh campaign launched to uphold disability rights
In Bangladesh, we’re calling for the National Disability Act 2013 to be implemented, to ensure disability rights are embedded into national legislation. Equal Bangladesh aims to be a powerful movement for change that will have a lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Visit the Equal Bangladesh website
Nigeria
Pioneering questionnaire used in schools to assess children’s educational needs
The SMILE project in Kaduna, Nigeria aims to promote inclusive education in mainstream schools so all children can take part. The project piloted the ‘Child Functioning Module’, a questionnaire developed by the Washington Group and UNICEF to discover if a child has difficulties with day-to-day tasks. Teacher Zachariah said: “It has given me a guide on how to support children with disabilities.” Read the SMILE blog
Kenya
New students joined our IT training programme
The latest cohort of young jobseekers with disabilities joined the IT Bridge Academy in Kenya. Through the programme, students are able to hone their IT skills and gain hands-on experience with paid internships in the sector. About the IT Bridge Academy
Our voices
I’m fighting for the rights of women with disabilities
“I’ve been working for disability organisations in Tanzania since the late 1980s: I now lead the national executive committee. Women face numerous challenges, and without assistance we cannot progress.
“I want to show other people with disabilities that they have the right to go to school, get employment and be represented.”
Sarah, Tanzania
My sight was saved – and I shared my story so others could be treated
“My sight was very difficult – I could only see things that were close. My life was affected and I couldn’t do anything at home. But when they did the operation, I could see clearly.
“All of my work is back on track. And when I saw the goodness I had been done, I didn’t want to keep it to myself. So I told other people what I had seen.”
Wilson, Malawi
I’ve helped my country to eliminate trachoma
“I’m proud we have achieved this milestone. Trachoma leads to a vicious cycle of pain, poverty and disability. Without it, children will be free to learn, and adults will be able to earn a living.
“But it hasn’t been easy. Our story shows that with a can-do attitude, and the right support, other countries will be able to eliminate the disease.”
Boubacar Morou Dicko
Sightsavers Mali country director
My daughter is now supported at school
“My village saw Irene as a child who is disabled, who couldn’t go anywhere, who could do nothing. But Sightsavers took us to a seminar where I learned about what I can give my child.
“Because of the programme, she is now giving me a lot of hope. She can mingle with the rest of the children, evenly and equally.”
Irene’s father Absalom, Kenya
I’ve treated many children for cataracts
“I work at a district hospital in eastern Zambia, where I do cataract surgery. There used to be no eye health staff in this district. Now we go into the community and tell them about cataracts.
“We meet the chiefs, and we train cataract finders in the communities. But we can’t do it without our partners and donors. Thousands of people have been helped because of them.”
Ophthalmologist Mr Phiri, Zambia
Finances in focus
Sightsavers’ total income in 2023 rose 8% to £338.2 million, compared with £313 million in 2022. This was due to an increased value of donated pharmaceutical gifts in kind to meet programme requirements.
Total expenditure also rose to £340.5 million, from £309.2 million in 2022, due to the additional gifts in kind.
For more details about our finances, see our full annual report.
Global income
| Income | |
|---|---|
| £24.024 million | Charitable activities |
| £226.879 million | Gifts in kind |
| £85.458 million | Donations and legacies |
| £1.534 million | Investments |
| £226,000 | Other trading |
| £38,000 | Other income |
Global expenditure
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| £226.492 million | Gifts in kind drug donations |
| £44.008 million | Neglected tropical diseases |
| £19.954 million | Eye health |
| £5.593 million | Policy and research |
| £16.719 million | Social inclusion |
| £5.107 million | Education |
| £23.185 million | Raising funds |
| -£557,000 | Foreign exchange gain |
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