Academic Research Studies

Supporting Women’s Livelihoods Across Asia & Africa

Here at TRANSFORM – a collaboration between Unilever, FCDO & EY – we’re committed to improving the lives of women and girls.

Why? Because investing in women’s economic empowerment drives inclusive growth and builds more resilient local economies.

In fact, our report ‘Lifting up communities by empowering women’ published in September 2023, revealed that when women gain access to stable employment, training, and financial resources, the benefits extend well beyond the individual. Women’s increased earnings and financial independence not only improve their own living standards, but also enable them to invest in their families’ health, education, and wellbeing.

To better understand the barriers women face and the opportunities ahead, we commissioned our research partner, Palladium, to:

– Map gender dynamics in the informal plastic and retail sectors – from access to resources to decision-making power

– Spot funding gaps and opportunities tailored to women entrepreneurs

– Identify grassroots organisations that could support women through training, mentorship and capacity building

Below, we highlight some of the challenges and trends identified in the reports, along with the impact TRANSFORM has had on improving the livelihoods of informal waste collectors and the women shopkeepers that bridge the divide between the informal and formal economy.

View the following infographics and download the reports to learn more about the barriers women face and the opportunities ahead.