Advocacy and Systems Leadership: Building Eye Health Capacity

In August, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) collaborated with the Ophthalmology Foundation to host a half-day workshop on Systems Leadership. Held in prior to the COECSA Congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, this workshop aimed to explore the non-clinical skills that can drive eye health progress at a national level. While clinical expertise is essential, navigating the complex systems that underpin health services requires a distinct set of leadership skills—skills that are critical for successful advocacy. 

The focus of the workshop was to introduce participants to systems leadership and help them reflect on their roles within the broader eye health ecosystem. Eye health professionals from six countries took part in the workshop, facilitated by Ruth Achillah, a systems leadership expert from Global Health Corps, and Anna McKeon, Director of Capability Building at IAPB. The participants were deeply engaged, sharing their experiences and challenges, and considering how a systems approach could transform eye care in their own countries. 

Why Systems Leadership Matters 

For IAPB members involved in advocacy, systems leadership is particularly relevant. Eye health is not just about providing treatment—it involves navigating the intricacies of health policy, financing, and delivery within broader national and international contexts. Eye health systems are part of a larger, interconnected web that includes governments, civil society, private sector partners, and international organizations. 

Systems leadership, unlike traditional hierarchical leadership approaches, emphasizes collaboration across sectors, adaptability to change, and a focus on long-term, sustainable solutions. Leaders who can think holistically—who understand how different elements of health and social systems interact—are better positioned to advocate for policies and resources that will improve eye care services. Workshop participants reflected on these concepts, noting that systems leadership challenged them to think beyond their immediate contexts, encouraging more innovative and far-reaching approaches to problem-solving. 

Key Outcomes 

The workshop outcomes highlighted the value of systems leadership for advocacy. Participants described systems leadership as a way to address root causes rather than merely responding to symptoms, and they expressed interest in forming a community of practice to continue learning from one another. They also expressed a keen desire to use these new insights to improve eye health services, both within their teams and at a national level.  

Several participants shared how they have already begun applying what they learned. For instance, one participant is developing partnerships to improve quality in eye health services in Kenya, while another is using systems thinking to inform primary eye care strategies. Such initiatives, rooted in a deeper understanding of the eye health ecosystem, show the potential of systems leadership to transform advocacy efforts across the board. 

Next Steps for Advocacy

For advocates across the IAPB network, this initiative offers an important insight: developing leadership capabilities in systems thinking can enhance your ability to advocate effectively. By understanding the complex dynamics that influence health systems, leaders can build stronger coalitions, make better-informed decisions, and ultimately drive more impactful change. Systems leadership empowers advocates to not only navigate the present challenges but also to shape the future of eye health. 

IAPB is committed to supporting its members in building these capabilities. As we look ahead, continuing to invest in systems leadership is essential. Whether through workshops, online learning, or regional meetings, we aim to provide the tools needed for advocates to thrive in complex environments. We are working on how we can offer more opportunities across our regions for IAPB members to participate in. We hope these efforts inspire even more members to take on the challenge of systems leadership in their advocacy work. 

For more information on upcoming workshops and resources on systems leadership, please visit the IAPB website or reach out to our Capability Building team.