Showcasing South-South Co-Operation – Second Generation of the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness

In 2008, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), introduced its regional initiative “the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB)”. This partnership brought together several partners from across the globe to support and build capacity in African Countries to fight the root causes of blindness.

The first generation covered eight African member countries (Benin, Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali and Niger). It provided eye care to more than 244,000 and restored sight for more than 49,000 blind people. Moreover, the Alliance also delivered capacity-building programmes for more than 177 doctors and technicians. Providing the treatment needed to combat eye diseases in the beneficiary countries.

Building on the great impact achieved during the first phase, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development and their partners agreed on introducing the second generation of the AFAB. This will continue the efforts of improving the quality of life and improving the socio-economic conditions in selected countries.

The Second Generation of AFAB aims at providing comprehensive, accessible and sustainable eye care services in 13 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Mali, Mozambique, Comoros, Niger, Somalia and Togo). After the official launch of the Second Generation of the Alliance on the sidelines of the 43^rd Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Tunisia in April 2018, the Bank and its partners have launched several activities ranging from country programming to quick wins in order to achieve its objectives.

The Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development are joining IAPB’s Council of Members for the first time, as a programme partner . We are delighted to be part of this important event and organizing a session “Showcasing South-South Co-Operation – Second Generation of the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB)”

The session aims at presenting the Second Generation of the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB), its achievement so far, rigorous country programming processes, multi-partnership approach; and encourage new partners to join the AFAB. The session will bring together AFAB practitioners from the field and global technical and financial partners to exchange knowledge, expertise and views on the successful solutions related to avoidable blindness. As well as identifying potential cooperation opportunities to scale up the implementation of the AFAB.