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…
For over a decade, TRANSFORM changed lives by tackling global challenges through innovative enterprise
About TRANSFORM
Established in 2015, TRANSFORM was a joint initiative led by Unilever, the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and EY. Together, we set out to help impact entrepreneurs test and scale commercially self-sustaining, market-driven solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
We built TRANSFORM on the principles of public-private collaboration and reciprocity, combining resources, expertise and networks to support locally led innovation. Through this approach, we worked alongside impact enterprises to create value for communities, entrepreneurs and partners alike.
Over the course of the initiative, we supported over 160 impact enterprise and research projects across 19 countries in Asia and Africa, reaching more than 21 million people.
The initiative came to an end in 2026 having exceeded its original ambition, but we have captured insights and lessons in our open-access playbook. We hope the TRANSFORM model lives on through others who adapt it, apply it and take its impact further.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Future of Work
Raise Living Standards
Protect & Regenerate Nature
Waste-Free World
Digital health
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enterprise & research projects supported
£
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provided in grant funding and business support
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m+
people reached
Project resources
Whether you're a donor, enterprise, business, investor or simply want to learn more, explore our collection of insights, tools, case studies and learning resources.
Impact Stories
Providing rural communities with access to disinfectant and hand sanitizer
TRANSFORM supported Spring Health with the introduction of new products, allowing them to strengthen their customer base, diversify their income…
Resources
4 Big Insights for Small Entrepreneurs: Building mutually beneficial relationships with global corporations
Scaling a business can’t be done alone. It takes partners, big and small, to help on the journey. The insights…
Academic Research Studies
How to support utilities to create new sanitation businesses
Learnings from TRANSFORM’s new Utilities Sanitation Challenge Dissemination Report Water utilities in Africa are increasingly embracing their new remit to…
Enterprise projects
TRANSFORM's impact enterprises are tackling some of the world's most pressing development challenges in an inclusive, sustainable and innovative way.
MySunshine by Unilever UK, Bopinc, Eight19, Marble Designs
From 2016 to 2019, Unilever UK and Bopinc collaborated on an innovation process that led to a unique proposition for…
HappyTap
Washing hands with soap is the cheapest and easiest way to prevent diarrhoea and infectious disease. However, less than one…
Sunlight Water Centers by TechnoServe
Access to clean water is a major problem in Nigeria, with 36 percent of the population lacking access to improved…
Planet 3R
Ibadan, in Nigeria, generates 5,000 tonnes of waste daily, of which only 40% is collected, leaving the rest to pollute…
Alner
Indonesia is the second biggest contributor to plastic waste, worldwide. In low-income areas, most daily essentials such as detergent, shampoo…
Baeru
Plastic debris is harmful to marine ecosystems and in India alone, 12 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the…
ASPEN by Technoserve
ASPEN was an innovative income diversification programme that leveraged cocoa cooperatives to distribute high-impact products through farmers as sales agents….
Boost
Digital innovations can support inclusion in sub-Saharan African markets and provide micro, small and medium enterprises with access to fundamental…