Our work

The Vision Catalyst Fund currently supports programmes in 18 low- and middle-income countries. Since our launch in 2020, we have built a strong global network of partners, engaged exceptional technical advisors, and developed innovative financing models. We have also facilitated the distribution of millions of glasses and lenses through EssilorLuxottica.

From 2026, our focus will shift to mobilising resources for governments’ costed national eye health plans. Working closely with institutions and ministries of health, we will channel capital directly to governments to scale sustainable services. While we will no longer provide project grants to partners, funding will remain available for technical partners who support governments in developing and delivering these plans.

Social Impact Guarantee

The VCF has worked with Tri-Sector Associates to undertake a feasibility study to pilot a new financial instrument, a Social Impact Guarantee funding eye health programmes in South East Asia. First developed in Singapore by Tri-Sector, a Social Impact Guarantee operates like an insurance scheme, whereby donors pay a premium to a Guarantor so that their investment is refunded should outcomes not be achieved. The Guarantor benefits by pooling the risk-premiums from multiple successful projects to fund additional social impact work. The VCF’s work with Tri-Sector was made possible by Santen Pharmaceuticals and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

With support from UBS Optimus Foundation, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office via Levoca’s Outcomes Accelerator, the VCF will be piloting the Social Impact Guarantee to fund a system change school eye health programme in Vietnam. The intervention will work to strengthen the rollout of the Vietnamese Government's National School Eye Care guidelines. We are in the process of engaging Guarantors and Upfront Investors for this initiative. Funder engagement will be followed by a co-creation process involving implementing partners and the Government of Vietnam. Once launched, the VCF aims to promptly start work to launch Social Impact Guarantees in additional countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Cambodia. To learn more please get in touch with us.

  • (1) Photo courtesy of EssilorLuxottica.

    (2) Photo courtesy of EssilorLuxottica.

    (3) Photo courtesy of Clinton Health Access Initiative Cambodia

    4) Photo courtesy of EssilorLuxottica.