{"id":422,"date":"2025-07-15T09:45:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kcco.org\/?page_id=422"},"modified":"2026-06-08T13:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T13:46:13","slug":"operational-research-innovation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kcco.org\/en\/what-we-do\/operational-research-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Operational Research & Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”4px|||||” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#AAA16D” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” width=”96%” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” height=”635px” height_tablet=”635px” height_phone=”635px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”0px|auto|15px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”40px|65px|40px|65px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|30px|40px|30px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”|20px||20px|true|true” custom_css_before=”margin:auto;” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”534cc526-6274-4e31-9e1a-7f18a5947bf1″ header_4_font=”–et_global_heading_font|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#571F0A” header_4_font_size=”15px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” header_4_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What we do<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”e864d11f-3dab-4fa3-ac06-4f0e1a260807″ header_font=”–et_global_heading_font||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#f9f9f9″ header_font_size=”51px” header_letter_spacing=”-0.02em” header_line_height=”1.15em” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Research and Innovation<\/b><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”0px||-1px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]KCCO generates practical evidence to improve eye health policy, services, and outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. We focus on questions that matter to Ministries of Health, hospitals, and communities, and use our findings to strengthen real programmes on the ground. <\/p>\n

Through its affiliation with the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where KCCO serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Trachoma, and with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) in Tanzania, KCCO advances locally led research in community ophthalmology.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/kcco.org\/for-eye-health-professionals\/research-reports\/” button_text=”Explore Our Publications and Reports” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”94ef7aca-dcd9-4f9d-93b2-efa3466cebc7″ button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_border_radius=”37px” button_font=”DM Sans|700||on|||||” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”15px|22px|15px|22px|false|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover=”#571F0A” button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/kcco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-13-at-11.38.25-AM.jpeg” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2026-05-13 at 11.38.25 AM” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” min_height=”449px” custom_margin=”10px||6px||false|false” custom_padding=”|||0px||” border_radii=”on|50px|50px|50px|50px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”100px” height=”100px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”df96b77a-cd4f-44a8-a771-2d6347592b53″ text_text_color=”#571F0A” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#2C4609″ header_2_font_size=”51px” header_2_letter_spacing=”-0.02em” header_2_line_height=”1.15em” custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Our current priorities include:<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” height=”600px” height_tablet=”600px” height_phone=”1500px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” max_height=”3000px” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” use_custom_gutter=”on” width=”95%” max_width=”2560px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#734E41″ text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Childhood cataract & low vision<\/h2>\n

Designing and testing models that improve early detection, referral, surgery, follow-up, and low vision support for children and their families.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#AAA16D” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” global_colors_info=”{}” width=”100%” max_width=”100%”]<\/p>\n

Gender and eye health<\/h2>\n

Identifying and addressing barriers that prevent women from accessing eye care, and co-creating gender-responsive outreach and service delivery models.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#AB6326″ text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”70px|40px|20px|40px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_before=”margin:auto;” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” width=”100%” max_width=”100%”]<\/p>\n

Trachoma elimination<\/h2>\n

Supporting countries to reach and sustain trachoma elimination targets, with a focus on hard-to-reach groups.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#571F0A” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” width=”100%” max_width=”100%”]<\/p>\n

Community and health system innovation<\/h2>\n

Working with partners to trial new approaches in community case finding, outreach, data use, and quality improvement in busy public eye departments.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”df96b77a-cd4f-44a8-a771-2d6347592b53″ text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#571F0A” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#2C4609″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_letter_spacing=”-0.02em” header_2_line_height=”1.15em” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Working in partnership with governments, universities, and NGOs, KCCO ensures that research findings inform policy, programme design, and service delivery improvements.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What we doResearch and InnovationKCCO generates practical evidence to improve eye health policy, services, and outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. We focus on questions that matter to Ministries of Health, hospitals, and communities, and use our findings to strengthen real programmes on the ground. 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