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As we approach the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, the advocacy and engagement efforts throughout 2025 will be instrumental in driving the Summit’s success. The 2025 Advocacy and Policy events strategy is designed to build political and institutional engagement, fostering dialogue with key stakeholders to secure high-level political attendance and national-level commitments that will amplify the urgency of addressing avoidable sight loss while catalysing support for sustainable eye health policies and financing. Through sustained engagement, these advocacy activities will create a ‘drumbeat’ of momentum, ensuring eye health remains central to the global development agenda.
A core focus of 2025 will be integrating eye health into the implementation of the UN resolution and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Leveraging global policy events such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69/Beijing+30), the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA), the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the IFA Global Conference on Ageing, and the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), will enable greater engagement with political leaders, development professionals, and sector specialists in targeted discussions. These platforms will emphasize the need for coordinated action, highlight national achievements, and showcase how sustainable, integrated eye health is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Integrated People-Centered Eye Care (IPEC).
Beyond policy influence, the 2025 advocacy agenda will also focus on strengthening financial commitments to eye health. Engaging international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, will be critical in demonstrating the return on investment from improved access to eye care. Additionally, cross-sector partnerships with UN agencies—including WHO, ILO, UN Women, and UNICEF—will help expand the reach of eye health integration into health, education, and economic development frameworks. National implementation will also be a key priority, supporting governments in delivering on their eye health commitments through policy guidance, funding mobilization, and increased accountability mechanisms.
The lead-up to the Summit is not just about building political will—it’s about creating a movement. By aligning eye health with global development priorities, we can ensure that the Summit is not a one-off event but a catalyst for long-term systemic change. The work of 2025 will determine the legacy of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health. Through sustained advocacy, strategic engagement, and concrete policy commitments, we can transform this moment into a movement—one that propels us closer to ending avoidable sight loss and achieving universal access to eye care.
Many readers will have attended Member updates on the Summit towards the end of February and be aware of the momentum building around engagement. A Political & Institutional Engagement Governance Group (PIE) has been established, with the Regional Chairs driving activity as the focal points for their respective regions.
The PIE has three main slices of activity. At the global level the group collates information and feedback, channelling it back to the Secretariat, Board and Programme Committee. The Regional Chairs are responsible for working with the IAPB Heads of Regions to identify lead countries in each region; they’ve also facilitated regional committees to support dissemination of the political messaging and framework.
The next step is to build support at a country level. So far, we have lead countries in all WHO regions: significant Ministry engagement has taken place in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia. Nepal, India, the UAE, Nigeria, Slovenia, Paraguay, Guyana and Antigua. As the wave starts to build, don’t be left out – talk to your Regional Chair or Head of Region about how you can get involved with the country advocacy.
Do read this blog from my colleague Anna on how to take action
