Background
Uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of vision impairment in child and adult populations. Globally, it is estimated that only 2 out of 3 people with a distance vision impairment due to refractive error in low-income countries have received access to an appropriate pair of spectacles. If left uncorrected, refractive error significantly impacts on well-being and can contribute to poor academic performance in children. To confound this problem, the number of people in need of spectacles is expected to increase substantially in the coming decade.
Reduced vision from refractive errors can be fully corrected with the use of spectacles or contact lenses or by laser surgery on reaching adulthood. Spectacles are a non-invasive assistive product and part of the WHO Priority assistive products list. Despite the availability of this simple, sight-correcting intervention, there are several challenges to increasing spectacle coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
In recognition of the large unmet need for care, coupled with the fact a highly cost–effective intervention exists (i.e. spectacles), WHO Member States endorsed the first-ever global target for refractive error at the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly (2021). Specifically, the global target is a 40-percentage point increase in effective coverage of refractive error (eREC) by 2030. To support Members States to achieve the World Health Assembly's endorsed target, WHO launched in May 2024, the SPECS 2030 initiative. The WHO SPECS 2030 initiative calls for coordinated action amongst all stakeholders (public, private, non-profit and philanthropy) across five pillars: improve access to refractive Services, build capacity of Personnel, improve population Education, reduce Costs of refractive services, and Strengthening surveillance and research.
In most countries, refractive error services are predominantly provided by the private sector. Considering the magnitude of refractive errors, eye health cannot be addressed as part of universal health coverage without a major contribution of the private sector. To achieve this, WHO will engage with relevant private sector actors, including, for example, the optical, pharmaceutical and technology industries, service providers and insurance companies with focus on mobilizing meaningful contributions that contribute to scaling up refractive error coverage.
To support this work, the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability (NCD) is looking for a service provider to advise the WHO Secretariat how to best engage with the private sector and mobilize scalable and meaningful contributions.
WHO is seeking an organization/provider that can develop the following activities:
- develop a thorough mapping analysis of the private sector landscape in the field of refractive error service provision and optical dispensing,
- support a prioritization exercise of mobilizing meaningful private sector contributions that can contribute to scaling up refractive error coverage, and
- conduct the desk review and provide background for the pre-qualification process of medical devices such as spectacles and hearing aids.
Required components of proposal
The proposal submitted should include:
- statement of interest,
- cost proposal,
- detailed experience and examples of previous relevant, similar work undertaken (or portfolio), and
- detailed timeline for the proposed project.
Submission of proposals
Your company is invited to submit a proposal to the email vision@who.int by 11 June 2025 at 23:59 CEST.