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.
TRANSFORM brought public and private sector organisations together, combining resources, expertise and networks to support locally led innovation. Through this approach, we worked alongside impact enterprises and researchers 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 delivered its vision, and its legacy continues. We’ve captured our insights and learnings in an open-access playbook. We hope the TRANSFORM model lives on through others who adapt it, apply it and take its impact further.
enterprise & research projects supported
provided in grant funding and business support
people reached
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.
Academic Research Studies
Micro-retailers, including small family-owned shops and convenience stores, have significant economic importance in emerging markets and developing economies. Despite the…
Impact Stories
By-line: Mike Stockman, Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Green Africa The ambition: Creating localised circular economies Mr. Green Africa (MGA) is…
Impact Stories
The UN SDGs outline an extensive list of urgent and complex world challenges that require long term but rapid solutions….
Impact Stories
The health and wellbeing of mums and their families is at the core of the work of MumsVillage, a social…
TRANSFORM's impact enterprises are tackling some of the world's most pressing development challenges in an inclusive, sustainable and innovative way.
Rural India faces various challenges, including a lack of connectivity and poor infrastructure, limited access to energy and a high…
Biodegradable plastics made from food sources are often seen as a promising alternative to traditional petroleum-based packaging. However, because they…
Women in rural Bangladesh do not have access to products and services commonly available for people in cities. This is…
There is a supply shortage of palm oil in Ghana and the wider ECOWAS region (Economic Community of West African…
ASPEN was an innovative income diversification programme that leveraged cocoa cooperatives to distribute high-impact products through farmers as sales agents….
Every year 380 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally and this figure is expected to double in 15 years….
In Pakistan, 80 percent of medical school graduates are women, yet only 25 percent of these women go on to…
Of the 700,500 tonnes of plastic containers and packaging introduced into Colombia’s domestic market each year, only 3% is recycled….