Sightsavers has been selected as the charity partner in the Financial Times lucrative seasonal appeal.

The international development charity was selected in a global staff vote and is the second international charity selected by FT staff in a row following last year’s partnership with Action Against Hunger. Over the past five years the newspaper has raised more than £6m for its featured charities. The 2011-2012 appeal could prove yet more lucrative for Sightsavers as Standard Chartered has pledged to match all donations made during the appeal.

The fundraising and awareness-raising campaign is due to kick off on 30 November with a photography auction at the Getty Gallery in London. Sightsavers projects and issues will also be highlighted editorially in the newspaper.

FT editor Lionel Barber said: “It is a critical time to be generating support, as current economic difficulties mean the vulnerable populations Sightsavers works with face increasing hardship.  We look forward to visiting some of the countries where the charity operates to bring their work to life through extensive editorial coverage, both in print and online.”

Caroline Harper, Sightsavers chief executive, said the charity was excited by the new partnership.