Strengthening Gender Equity in Eye Health: WLEH Hosts First In-Person Gender Champions and Partners’ Meeting in Ethiopia

In August 2025, colleagues from Seva Foundation and Orbis International came together in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the first in-person Gender Champions and Partners’ Meeting under the Women Leaders in Eye Health initiative.

Held on the sidelines of the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) Congress, the two-day gathering marked an important milestone for WLEH, bringing together around 20 Gender Champions and key partners for interactive workshops, strategic discussions, and collaborative planning.

The sessions focused on making WLEH more gender-transformative, strengthening the intersection between gender and communication, and translating high-level goals into practical, country-level actions. Participants shared insights and challenges from their own contexts, working collectively to identify opportunities to promote women’s leadership and gender equity within eye health systems.

Beyond the learning sessions, the meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to build connections, exchange experiences, and reinforce a shared commitment to advancing women’s leadership across the region. The in-person format added a layer of energy and trust that virtual meetings could not replicate, helping to deepen collaboration among Gender Champions and implementing teams.

Our WLEH partners are working to create a global platform that fosters mentorship, leadership development, and gender-responsive practices across the eye health sector. This milestone meeting in Ethiopia not only strengthened partnerships but also set the tone for the next phase of WLEH’s growth : one grounded in action, collaboration, and the shared vision of a more inclusive and equitable future for eye health leadership.