Orbis Ireland
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with great pride and gratitude that I welcome you to Orbis Ireland's 2024 Annual Impact Report.
In 2024, three interconnected principles guided our work: empowerment, opportunity, and transformation. In collaboration with our partners, we saw how empowering individuals leads to new opportunities—and how those opportunities spark lasting change.
This year, Orbis Ireland reaffirmed its commitment to one mission: eliminating avoidable blindness and ensuring quality eye care across a region of 3.6 million people in rural Ethiopia. Thanks to your generosity, we strengthened eye care systems, empowered local professionals, and delivered life-changing services to some of the most underserved communities.
Empowering individuals is at the core of our work. In challenging settings like rural Ethiopia, trust creates opportunities—and when those opportunities are embraced, transformation follows. We are guided by belief: in people, in systems, and in the shared future we are building.
In Ethiopia, 2024 saw real progress in gender equity, safeguarding, and school-based eye health, all through strong national partnerships and targeted training. Meanwhile, here in Ireland, we launched new awareness campaigns that brought Orbis’s mission even closer to home and grew our flagship fundraising events—the Orbis Gift of Sight Ball and the Great Ethiopian Run.
These achievements would not be possible without the generous support of so many. In particular, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid, whose continued partnership in 2024 played a vital role in advancing our shared mission. We are equally grateful to the many companies, individuals, and communities across Ireland who chose to support Orbis Ireland through donations, sponsorship, and tireless fundraising efforts throughout the year.
Thanks to your generosity, we reached more people than ever before.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to investing in people and communities—not only through programmes, but also by supporting the energy, knowledge, and leadership of those we serve.
Together, we are not just delivering eye care—we are expanding what's possible. We are helping build a world where empowered communities lead the way toward access, equity, and enduring impact.
On behalf of the entire Board of Orbis Ireland, thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to the road ahead together —with clear eyes and a shared vision for a brighter future.
Warmest regards,
Clare O'Dea
Chair, Orbis Ireland
For more than forty years, Orbis has led globally in the fight against avoidable blindness. As one of five affiliate offices, Orbis Ireland works with Orbis International and country partners to fund, design, and deliver eye care projects that change lives.
In 2024, our comprehensive eye care programme in rural southern Ethiopia reached more than 3.5 million people.
Over 1.1 billion people worldwide live with vision loss, making ending avoidable blindness for all a global challenge. 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable. Orbis and our supporters aim to create a world where no one experiences avoidable vision loss solely because of where they live.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a shared blueprint for achieving a world where poverty is eradicated, the planet is protected, and peace and prosperity are ensured for all by 2030. Eye health is deeply connected to this global agenda—improving vision enhances education, employment, equality, and overall well-being.
By tackling avoidable blindness, Orbis contributes not only to better health outcomes but also to broader social and economic development. Orbis Ireland’s comprehensive eye health programmes in Ethiopia directly advance several SDGs by addressing the underlying factors that cause and perpetuate vision loss.
The below outlines how Orbis contributes to the SDGs, bringing us closer to a world where no one is left behind
In 2024, Orbis Ireland made significant strides in the fight against avoidable blindness in rural southern Ethiopia. Thanks to the unwavering support of Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, our generous donors, and dedicated volunteers, we reached some of the country’s most underserved communities with life-changing eye care services.
Guided by our four core objectives, the programme worked to:
- Reduce the prevalence of trachoma across all districts through the Surgery and Antibiotics components of the SAFE strategy;
- Increase the uptake and quality of cataract and refraction services;
- Improve public awareness of eye health and environmental hygiene at both school and community levels; and
- Enhance the quality of clinical services, including surgical outcomes for patients.
These achievements reflect our commitment to sustainable, community-based solutions that do more than restore sight—they empower local health systems and improve quality of life.
We adopted a holistic approach—pairing eye care with hygiene, sanitation, and education—to address root causes of preventable blindness such as trachoma. WASH interventions in schools and villages disrupted disease transmission, while our school eye-care programmes empowered teachers and students alike.
Even in the face of medicine shipment delays, inflation, and health crises, our teams showed resilience. Together, we are building a future where no one loses their sight from preventable causes.
To eliminate trachoma—the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness—Orbis Ireland follows the World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy: Surgery to correct advanced disease, Antibiotics to stop infection, Facial cleanliness to reduce transmission, and Environmental improvements to ensure lasting change.
In 2024, we applied this proven framework across vulnerable districts in southern Ethiopia, integrating it with local health services and community education. By combining immediate treatment with long-term prevention, the SAFE approach tackles the root causes of trachoma and strengthens the local health system for the future.
SAFE STRATEGY
Surgery
Antibiotics
Facial Cleanliness
Environmental Improvements
Strong partnerships are at the heart of Orbis's impact. Our progress in preventing avoidable blindness and strengthening eye care systems in Ethiopia is only possible through the collaboration and commitment of our partners.
Orbis works closely with the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health and regional health authorities to deliver sustainable, government-led eye care solutions. Their leadership ensures that our programmes align with national health priorities and that local capacity is strengthened for long-term impact.
We are proud to collaborate with the Emmanuel Development Association, a local WASH NGO whose expertise in water, sanitation, and hygiene is vital to our comprehensive trachoma prevention efforts. Together, we support schools and communities to improve hygiene practices and infrastructure — key to reducing reinfection rates and promoting overall health.
Our collaboration with Pfizer, through the International Trachoma Initiative and the Trachoma Taskforce, continues to be instrumental in the fight against trachoma. Pfizer’s donation of Zithromax®, the antibiotic essential to trachoma prevention and treatment, enables Orbis to protect entire communities from infection and move closer to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.
These partnerships exemplify the shared vision, trust, and cooperation that drive sustainable progress — ensuring that quality eye care reaches those who need it most.
In 2024, Orbis Ireland’s programme in southern Ethiopia delivered impact on an unprecedented scale. Despite supply-chain challenges and regional health crises, our teams surpassed or closely met nearly every major target, demonstrating both the resilience of our partners and the growing demand for quality eye care.
In total, Orbis Ireland’s work in 2024 reached over 3.5 million people in southern Ethiopia through surgeries, screenings, antibiotic distribution, and hygiene initiatives.
The numbers below capture more than outputs—they represent lives transformed: people who can see their families again, children who can learn without limitation, and communities strengthened through sustainable health systems.
Delivering sight-saving care across rural southern Ethiopia in 2024 demanded flexibility and determination. Several factors tested our progress during the year, yet strong partnerships and rapid adaptation allowed us to stay on track and meet, or even exceed, many of our key targets.
Medical Supply & Logistics
Delays in national supply chains temporarily affected the delivery of essential medicines and eyeglasses, slowing some community campaigns early in the year. By adjusting schedules and adding extra outreach rounds later in 2024, we recovered momentum and ensured patients received the care they needed.
Trachoma Elimination Targets
Infection rates continued to fall sharply, with trachoma now close to elimination in most areas. However, identifying the last remaining cases of advanced trachoma required intensive door-to-door work, and final elimination targets were not fully achieved by the end of the year.
Human Resources & Training
Finding and retaining qualified eye-care workers, especially women, remained a challenge. To address this, we’ve developed new female-only training programmes and refresher courses to strengthen local capacity.
Systems Pressures
Routine monitoring revealed some inconsistencies in clinic-level data reporting. Additional supervision and training were provided to improve accuracy and strengthen long-term systems.
Despite these challenges, our team’s adaptability and strong partnerships enabled us to continue reaching more people than ever before.
Over the next phase of our work, Orbis Ireland will:
Expand school-based eye health programmes to reach more children with early intervention, hygiene education, and essential eye care services.
Scale up Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns in new high-risk districts to move closer to the elimination of trachoma.
Train more female eye-care professionals to ensure access and equity for people living in remote communities.
Together, these steps will strengthen Ethiopia’s eye health system and bring us closer to a future free from avoidable blindness.
At Orbis Ireland, we believe that access to eye care is not just a health issue — it is a matter of equality and human rights. Women, girls, and people with disabilities often face the greatest barriers to vision services. In 2024, we worked deliberately to reduce those barriers so that everyone, regardless of gender, background, or ability, can enjoy the right to sight.
Empowering Women
Women make up the majority of people affected by avoidable blindness. To close this gap, our outreach teams scheduled eye-care campaigns in places and at times accessible to women — including local markets and schools. As a result, female participation in screenings and surgeries increased significantly in 2024.
More than 5,000 health workers and teachers — many of them women — were trained to deliver basic eye care, ensuring that women play a leading role in shaping and sustaining local health services.
Supporting Girls’ Education
Through our school eye-health programme, over 47,000 children were screened, with a strong focus on early detection among girls, who are at greater risk of dropping out of school if vision problems go untreated.
New clean water and sanitation facilities were also installed in schools, improving hygiene and ensuring girls can attend safely and confidently.
Including Everyone
Blindness and visual impairment disproportionately affect people with disabilities and other marginalised groups. Restoring sight reduces stigma, increases independence, and opens doors to education and employment.
Together, these actions are helping to build a more inclusive future — one where everyone has the opportunity to see, learn, and thrive.
Our approach recognises that gender is only one dimension of inclusion. Beginning in 2025, Orbis Ireland will place a stronger focus on ensuring that people with disabilities — who often face additional physical and social barriers to care — can access eye health services without limitation.
We will work to make all programmes, facilities, and communications fully accessible, embedding gender, disability, and inclusion principles into every stage of planning and evaluation. Our goal is clear: to build an eye-care system where no one is left behind.
Every euro raised in Ireland directly supported Orbis’s sight-saving work in Ethiopia, ensuring high-impact programmes and sustainable eye care systems
Sound financial stewardship underpins everything we do. In 2024, Orbis Ireland raised over €1 million thanks to the generosity of our donors, partners, and event participants. These funds—drawn from statutory grants, fundraising events, individual donations, and corporate partnerships—directly supported our sight-saving programmes in Ethiopia and sustained our operations in Ireland. The breakdown below demonstrates our commitment to transparency and to maximising the impact of every euro entrusted to us.
Income
In 2024, the generosity of our supporters and partners enabled Orbis Ireland to raise €1,065,805 (2023: €1,131,330) to fund sight-saving programmes in Ethiopia and sustain our work in Ireland. The breakdown below illustrates the diverse sources of this income, including a grant from Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs, events, individual donations, and corporate partnerships, reflecting a broad base of support and our commitment to transparent and sustainable fundraising.
A % of total income
23%
Statutory Funding
54%
Events
10%
Individual Donations
13%
Corporate Partners
Expenditure
In 2024, we ensured that the vast majority of resources went directly to sight-saving programmes. Administration represented just 14% of total expenditure, while it cost 23 cents to raise each euro of income—figures that reflect prudent management and a commitment to long-term sustainability.
Our administrative costs remain well below the 15–20% range typically considered healthy for charities. Investing in strong governance, finance, and compliance ensures that our programmes are of high quality and that our donors’ gifts have maximum impact.
A % of Total Expenditure
62%
Programme
14%
Administration
23%
Fundraising
Strong governance and transparency are at the heart of Orbis Ireland’s work. In 2024, we continued to uphold the highest standards of accountability, ensuring that every euro entrusted to us delivers meaningful and lasting impact.
Board & Leadership
Orbis Ireland is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors that provides strategic direction, financial oversight, and leadership in line with the Charities Governance Code. The Board met regularly throughout the year to review progress, assess impact, and guide the organisation’s long-term vision.
In 2024, Clare O’Dea continued as Chair, supported by Donal Brosnahan as Vice Chair. We were delighted to welcome Rachel Dunne, Maire Matthews, and Aran Corrigan Karimjee to the Board during the year. We extend our sincere thanks to Anne Nolan and Trevor Lydon for their valuable contributions and service.
Orbis Ireland is proud to foster a Board and leadership culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making, deepen accountability, and ensure our governance reflects the communities we serve.
Committees and Oversight
To ensure rigorous oversight, the Board is supported by five specialist subcommittees:
Fundraising Committee – provides strategic guidance on donor engagement and event planning.
Programme Committee – monitors programme delivery, learning, and impact in Ethiopia.
Audit, Finance & Remuneration Committee – oversees financial management, compliance, and risk.
Governance and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee – promotes inclusive governance and best practice across Orbis Ireland’s policies and culture.
Nominations Committee – leads succession planning and ensures a balanced, skilled Board.
These committees play an essential role in maintaining integrity, accountability, and the effective use of resources across all areas of our work.
Commitment to Transparency
Orbis Ireland is fully compliant with the Charities Governance Code and the Companies Act 2014, and receives an independent annual audit from KPMG. In 2024, the Board strengthened internal monitoring systems and updated the organisation’s Constitution to ensure continued best practice in governance and oversight.
We are deeply grateful for the ongoing partnership and confidence of Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, whose long-term support underpins our programmes in Ethiopia. In April 2025, Orbis Ireland was awarded a new five-year Civil Society grant from Irish Aid — a strong endorsement of our accountability, transparency, and sustained impact.
Good governance is the foundation of Orbis Ireland’s success. In the years ahead, we will continue to strengthen transparency, accountability, and inclusive leadership — ensuring that DEI principles are embedded in all areas of governance.
In 2024, Orbis Ireland inspired and mobilised communities across the country to help end avoidable blindness. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, we raised vital funds to deliver sight-saving care in Ethiopia — transforming lives and creating lasting change.
Statutory, Trusts & Foundations
We extend our sincere thanks to our statutory funder, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade / Irish Aid, and to our charitable partners, including the Environmental Health Association of Ireland and the Smurfit Foundation. Their commitment ensures that Orbis Ireland can continue to strengthen eye health systems and train local professionals in Ethiopia.
Corporate Partners
Our sincere gratitude also goes to our corporate partners — from the aviation, finance, healthcare, and legal sectors — whose collaboration drives our impact year after year. The generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment of our corporate partners continually inspire us. In 2024, companies across Ireland once again united behind our mission to end avoidable blindness — raising vital funds, driving awareness, and engaging employees in creative and meaningful ways.
In 2024, our corporate partners dedication and partnership continued to bring the gift of sight to communities across Ethiopia.
Fundraising Events & Initiatives
From flagship events like the Great Ethiopian Run and the Gift of Sight Ball to nationwide campaigns such as Eye Care for All, supporters across Ireland demonstrated incredible creativity and determination. These collective efforts not only generated essential income but also strengthened public understanding of avoidable blindness and the power of restoring sight.
Below is an overview of just some of our highlights in 2024:
Orbis Ireland’s progress is built on partnership. Over the next five years, we will deepen collaboration with Irish Aid, corporate supporters, and the eye-care community across Ireland.
Together, we will scale proven solutions, strengthen health systems, and champion equality in access to sight-saving care — creating a legacy of vision, inclusion, and shared progress.
Behind every statistic is a person whose life has been transformed by restored sight. Our community stories bring those numbers to life, sharing the voices of children, parents, and health workers who experienced the impact of Orbis Ireland’s programmes firsthand. These personal accounts reveal the resilience of the people we serve, the dedication of our partners, and the far-reaching benefits of accessible eye care across southern Ethiopia.
Orbis Ireland, Registered Charity Number: 20061531
Email address: [email protected]
Phone number: +353-87-2588173
Address: 20-21 St Patricks Road, Dalkey A96DV76, Dublin
