TRANSFORM Secures $10M Grant Funding

TRANSFORM, the joint initiative between Unilever, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and EY, has announced it has secured $10.0 million in new funding. This capital infusion will support the initiative's ongoing mission to address pressing development challenges through social enterprise.

Established in 2015 by Unilever and the then Department for International Development, with EY joining in 2019, TRANSFORM combines public sector resources with private sector capabilities. It operates primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, focusing on improving the lives of low-income households. The initiative achieves this by identifying and supporting social enterprises designed to address local challenges, foster livelihoods, and empower women. Beyond grant funding, TRANSFORM provides comprehensive business support, including access to commercial networks, technology, and specialized expertise in areas such as behaviour change, marketing, sales, distribution, and improving social business models.

The $10.0 million in funding represents a significant boost for TRANSFORM's strategic objectives. This investment is intended to scale its existing programs, allowing for expanded support to a greater number of social enterprises and deepening its impact within its target regions. The capital will be prudently deployed to enhance the initiative's capacity to deliver its unique blend of financial and practical assistance, reinforcing its model of fostering sustainable solutions to global development challenges.

With this new funding, TRANSFORM is well-positioned to accelerate its progress towards its ambitious goal of enabling up to 100 million of the world’s poorest people to access products and services that improve their health, livelihoods, environment, or well-being by 2025. The initiative continues to leverage the collective reach and expertise of its world-class partners to create jobs and contribute significantly to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.