Light for the World International

What Light for the World International does

Light for the World International is an Austrian-registered non-profit association (ZVR-Nr. 315688676) founded in 1990 and headquartered in Vienna that advances disability rights, eye health, inclusive education, and economic empowerment for people with disabilities, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Its operational backbone consists of six wholly-owned country offices in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Uganda, complemented by five national member organisations in Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, the United States, and Belgium that primarily handle fundraising and awareness-raising.

The organisation delivers a portfolio of programmes rather than a unified technology product. Core programmatic lines include the '1, 2, 3 I can see!' child eye health initiative, eye health system strengthening, the SPARK disability-inclusive rural transformation programme with IFAD, the 'We Can Work' partnership with Mastercard Foundation targeting youth employment by 2030, the InBusiness programme with Sightsavers in Kenya, inclusive education services, and humanitarian action for people with disabilities in emergencies. Delivery relies on the Disability Inclusion Facilitator (DIF) model — training people with disabilities as agents of change — and on partnerships with UN agencies (UNICEF, ILO, UNESCO, UNHCR), OPDs (Organisations of Persons with Disabilities), and international NGOs.

The revenue model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Funding sources include institutional grants from governments and foundations (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UK FCDO, Mastercard Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Standard Chartered Foundation, Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait, IFAD), corporate and foundation philanthropy (L'Occitane Foundation, UEFA Foundation for Children, Essilor, The Fred Hollows Foundation), and individual donations that are tax-deductible across six European jurisdictions. In 2024 the organisation reported 1,448,629 people reached, 1,020,203 eye consultations, and 60,666 participants in economic empowerment activities; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Light for the World International

Legal name

Light for the World International – Organisation for Inclusive Development

Website

https://light-for-the-world.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Light for the World International is an Austrian-registered non-profit founded in 1990 that advances disability rights, eye health, inclusive education, and economic empowerment through six African country offices and partner-led programmes. It is funded by institutional grants, foundation philanthropy, and individual donations across multiple European jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development - Disability Inclusion and Eye Health

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Vision Impairment & Blind/Low-Vision Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion services
• Eye health programmes
• Inclusive education services
• Humanitarian action programmes
• Economic empowerment programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Donations: Light for the World operates as a non-profit organisation funded primarily through institutional grants from governments, foundations, and individual donations. The organisation receives support from institutional partners including governments, international organisations, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Light for the World International is an international development non-profit that delivers eye health services (cataract surgery, trachoma treatment, child eye screening), inclusive education programmes (teacher training, assistive devices), disability rights advocacy, economic empowerment initiatives (vocational training, micro-enterprise support), and inclusive humanitarian action. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries through country offices and partner organisations across six African focus countries, funded by institutional grants, foundation support and individual donations.

Product overview

Light for the World International is a non-profit disability and development organization that offers a portfolio of programmes and initiatives rather than a unified technology product. The organization operates across six focus countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Uganda) with programmes in eye health (including the '1, 2, 3 I can see!' child eye health initiative), disability inclusion, economic empowerment (including SPARK, We Can Work, InBusiness, We Are Able!, EmployAble, and Make 12.4% Work), inclusive education, and humanitarian action. The core approach is the Disability Inclusion Facilitator (DIF) model that provides training and inclusion services. The organization also offers Disability Inclusion Advisory Services and practical tools like the Disability Inclusion Score Card. These programmes work through partnerships with governments, OPDs, NGOs, and international organizations rather than through a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1, 2, 3 I can see!: Child eye health programme - 10-year initiative to sustainably improve child eye health services in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Uganda
• We Can Work
• InBusiness
• SPARK
• EmployAble
• Make 12.4% Work
• We Are Able!

Products and services

• Eye Health Services Eye health services that strengthen local health systems, train ophthalmologists, nurses and opticians, and deliver cataract surgery, trachoma treatment, and corrective glasses to vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Inclusive Education Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,448,629 people reached with crucial support in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mastercard FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to enable young people with disabilities to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030 through the 'We Can Work' programme. Working with the African Disability Forum and national OPDs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership based on mutual trust and genuine commitment to reach tangible results for children and adults with disabilities.
• RED NOSES InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to explore the potential of co-creation in psychosocial support for humanitarian action programmes, particularly the InPower project in Mozambique.
• SightsaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Inclusive Futures project, InBusiness, creating decent and sustainable work opportunities for people with disabilities. Linked micro-entrepreneurs with disabilities to businesses in Kenya.
• FAMOD (Mozambican Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Mozambique working to promote disability rights and increase the capacity and resources of local OPDs.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPARK - Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation programme impacting the lives of over 7,000 persons with disabilities by enabling full engagement in agricultural and pastoral value chains.
• International Labour Organisation (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for economic empowerment and disability-inclusive employment programmes including SPARK programme.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for inclusive education including roll-out of inclusive comprehensive sexual education for teachers and learners who are blind and deaf in South Sudan.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for disability-inclusive humanitarian action and protection of people with disabilities in refugee settings.
• The Fred Hollows FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for eye health programmes and trachoma elimination efforts.
• The END FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for neglected tropical disease programmes including trachoma elimination.
• International Disability Alliance (IDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network partnership for global disability rights advocacy.
• African Disability Forum (ADF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network partnership for disability rights across Africa, collaborating on We Can Work programme.
• European Disability Forum (EDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network partnership for disability rights advocacy.
• Humanity & InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for InBusiness programme in Kenya, economically empowering people with disabilities through a twin-track approach.
• CAREminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational programme partner for humanitarian and development projects.
• Save the ChildrenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational programme partner for child-focused development projects.
• BRACminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership through Disability Inclusive Development programme exploring how BRAC could become more disability inclusive.
• VSOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational programme partner for volunteer development work.
• EssilorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Vision for Life programme supporting eye health and corrective glasses provision.
• Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPDs partner in Ethiopia for disability rights advocacy and programme implementation.
• National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPDs partner in Uganda for disability rights advocacy, youth engagement, and programme implementation.
• United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPDs partner in Kenya for disability-inclusive economic programmes and advocacy.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a UK-headquartered INGO focused on eye health (including trachoma elimination) and disability inclusion across Africa and Asia. It is a direct peer in both the eye-health and economic-empowerment programmes served by Light for the World; the two organisations are co-partners in the Inclusive Futures consortium.
• CBM (Christoffel-Blindenmission): CBM is a Germany-based INGO combining inclusive eye health with disability-inclusive development across Africa and Asia. It is a direct peer on virtually every programme theme Light for the World runs — cataract services, inclusive education, disability-inclusive employment and humanitarian action.
• The Fred Hollows Foundation: Fred Hollows Foundation is an Australia-headquartered INGO operating end-to-end eye-health programmes (cataract, trachoma, refractive error) in Africa and the Pacific. It is a direct peer and named programme partner of Light for the World on trachoma elimination.
• Orbis International: Orbis is a US-headquartered INGO delivering eye-care services, training and advocacy globally with a heavy Africa footprint. It is a direct peer in the ophthalmic training, cataract surgery and child eye-health domains where Light for the World also operates.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): Humanity & Inclusion is a France-headquartered INGO working on disability inclusion, rehabilitation, and inclusive humanitarian action, and is a co-implementing partner with Light for the World on the InBusiness programme in Kenya.
• International Disability Alliance (IDA): IDA is a global network of disability rights organisations and a stated partner of Light for the World on global advocacy. It is comparable as a disability-rights advocacy peer, though it operates as a network rather than a service-delivery INGO.
• African Disability Forum (ADF): ADF is the continental umbrella of African OPD federations and a co-partner with Light for the World on the Mastercard Foundation 'We Can Work' programme. It shares the same beneficiary population and advocacy agenda across the same six focus countries.

Others

• BRAC: BRAC is one of the world's largest development INGOs and a named implementation partner of Light for the World exploring disability inclusion in BRAC programmes. Comparable as a large multi-country development organisation rather than a direct thematic peer.
• Save the Children: Save the Children is a major child-focused INGO and a listed international programme partner of Light for the World. It is comparable on inclusive education and child-focused humanitarian programming rather than as an eye-health peer.
• CARE International: CARE is a large humanitarian and development INGO listed as a programme partner of Light for the World. It overlaps on inclusive humanitarian action and economic empowerment rather than on eye health specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/light-for-the-world.org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0BYW3dcUdCN7MxMPeuj0ow
• Facebookfacebook.com/LFTWInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/light-for-the-world

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Light for the World International