Working together to end avoidable blindness
Good eye health is a major global challenge, yet broad awareness of its importance as a global health issue and its social and economic benefits is lacking. By establishing and growing partnerships with the United Nations, World Health Organization, and key civil society and eye health partners, we can integrate eye health into global agreements, research, tools, policies, and practices at the local level. Together, we build sustainable solutions by leveraging the strengths of global, regional, and local organisations.
Our global goals
We aim to elevate eye health as a social, economic, and development issue to unlock political will and resources. The Foundation will advocate for eye health in health and other sectors, demonstrating its importance through program evidence and investment cases. Together, with our global partners, we will promote stronger planning and governance around resources, encourage multi-sectoral systemic action, and address the barriers that women and girls face in accessing eye health services.
Our partnership with the United Nations
We hold a special status with the United Nations which helps our efforts to integrate eye health into the broader sustainable development agenda. Working with the UN Friends of Vision group, which is a group of UN Member States consisting of country representatives, including at Ambassador level, from more than 60 countries. The UN Friends of Vision group aims to advance the issue of eye health within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to raise its profile on the international agenda, and to share knowledge from the sector with and among Member States. It has developed a strong and credible voice in UN political processes.
Our partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO)
The Fred Hollows Foundation holds a formal relationship with the World Health Organization, known as 'official relations status’. This prestigious status, endorsed by the WHO Executive Board and reviewed every three years, allows us to develop formal collaboration plans, attend WHO governance meetings, and enter donor agreements. These opportunities enable us to financially support strategic projects and drive the global agenda for eye health through the premier global health body. As part of this agreement, we also work with regional WHO bodies in the Western Pacific, Eastern Mediterranean, African, and Pan-America.