Focus Countries of the Campaign

Though achieving education for all children with visual impairment is the overall objective of the campaign, it is implemented in a phased manner through focus countries recommended by the Global Task Force on the basis of the following criteria.

Criteria for selecting focus countries

• Presence of a functioning organisation(s) of the blind
• Programmes for EFA already in place
• Availability of facilities for human resource development (such as teacher training)
• Evidence of Government's commitment to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals
• NGDOs actively working in the country in the area of education (local and International NGOs)
• Existing capacity to support the education of children with visual impairment (such as braille production centres)
• Focus on inclusive education in respect to Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes
• Countries which are active in implementing Blindness Prevention Programmes (such as the Vision 2020 programme)
• Countries which have the potential to make impact on other countries within the region
• Formation of National Task Forces with representation from the Government

Existing Focus Countries

Click on the map to enlarge view

• China
• Ecuador
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Honduras
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Pakistan
• Paraguay
• The Dominican Republic
• Vietnam

Proposed Focus Countries

• Bangladesh
• Bolivia
• Cambodia
• Chile
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• Kenya
• Laos
• Malawi
• Mali
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Rwanda
• Sri Lanka
• Tajikistan
• Uganda