TRANSFORM

Closed: TRANSFORM was an impact accelerator led by Unilever, the FCDO and EY that helped visionary entrepreneurs test and scale commercially self-sustaining, market-driven solutions to global challenges.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Published: 12 June 2018

• Funds: Closed
• Countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana and India
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  Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia
• Sector: Agriculture, Disabilities, Environment, Girls and women and Health
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  Livelihoods, Private sector/business, Technology, Trade, and Water and sanitation
• Eligible organisations: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UK-based non-profit organisations, Companies, Educational institutions and Individuals
• Value of funding: £100,001 to £500,000

Overview

In 2015, the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (formerly Department for International Development) established TRANSFORM in partnership with Unilever as an example of how collaboration can be used to tackle global challenges and drive impact at scale.

By combining flexible grant funding with the capabilities and networks of Unilever, and with EY who joined in 2019, TRANSFORM tested and scaled early-stage, high-potential and market-driven solutions. This approach enabled the assessment of the quality and viability of locally led, enterprise driven innovation, and the insights generated have been used to inform other programmes.

Over nearly 11 years, TRANSFORM supported more than 160 impact enterprise and research projects in Asia and Africa. These projects have contributed to a range of development outcomes, including improved livelihoods, increased access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and the protection and regeneration of nature. Over 21 million people have been reached, including business owners, workers, customers and wider communities.

Together, we also helped enterprises strengthen their business models and build foundations to scale their impact, with over £66.4 million in follow-on funding secured.

Alongside this, TRANSFORM generated a substantial body of evidence and learnings. This included practical insights to support other impact enterprises on their journeys to scale, alongside research across issue areas such as refill and reuse, recycling behaviours, informal economy entrepreneurship and sanitation work.

Having delivered its intended outcomes, TRANSFORM concluded in 2026, leaving a strong legacy of more resilient enterprises and insights to inform future collaborations.  These learnings have been captured in TRANSFORM’s open-access and practical playbook, so others can adapt and apply the model in the years ahead.

Playbook: https://ey.com/transform-playbook

TRANSFORM website: https://transform.global/