Unilever
A UNICEF corporate partner since 2012
Unilever, putting purpose at the core of business to help create transformational change for children
UNICEF has worked with Unilever since 2012, partnering with brands including Domestos, Dove, and Lifebuoy to help improve quality of life and create sustainable change for children worldwide.
Since 2012, Unilever has committed over US$30 million to support UNICEF’s WASH, education, and gender programmes. This generous donation, alongside the provision of Unilever’s in-kind support and expertise, enables UNICEF and Unilever to drive transformational change for communities and children across different crucial areas, from preventing diseases through improved sanitation, to empowering adolescents with the skills they need to build their self-confidence.
Through our partnerships with different brands, Unilever has supported a diverse range of programmes. UNICEF’s partnership with Domestos has helped over 28 million people get access to a clean and safe toilet, and UNICEF’s partnership with Dove is expected to help 10 million young people gain the body confidence and self-esteem they need to reach their full potential.
As part of the Dirt is Good campaign, Omo supported UNICEF programmes to help 10 million children in Brazil, India and Viet Nam access quality education. Toothpaste brand Signal partnered with UNICEF to promote good hygiene and nutrition with behaviour-change messaging in Egypt, reaching over 338,000 children. Unilever has also supported UNICEF with the donation of millions of hygiene products, distributed to help protect vulnerable children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clean and safe toilets with Domestos
Having access to sanitation is a basic human right. Good sanitation helps to stop the spread of germs, preventing sickness and disease. Domestos supports UNICEF to ensure that children and their communities have access to a cleaner, safer toilet through our cause-related marketing campaign. In 2018 through 2020, Domestos’ donations have been used to strengthen and sustain UNICEF’s support to the Government of India on the Swachh Bharat Mission, a nationwide programme to eliminate open defecation in India.
Boosting self-esteem with Dove
Dove and UNICEF are adapting modules on self-esteem and body confidence from the Dove Self-Esteem Project to be included within UNICEF’s existing life-skills programmes in Brazil, India, and Indonesia. Equipped with essential life skills, young people can grow their self-confidence and learn about their rights to things like education and health care.
“The Dove Self Esteem Project has reached over 69 million young people and we are very happy to be partnering with UNICEF to empower 10 million more young people, especially girls. Issues with self-esteem and body confidence can have serious implications for girls’ development, so it is critical that we work to address them and help girls become the leaders of tomorrow.” – CEO of Unilever Alan Jope
Promoting safer hygiene practices in schools
UNICEF, Lifebuoy and Domestos’ partnership to promote safer hygiene and sanitation practices in schools focuses on handwashing and the maintenance of toilets. Through continuous advocacy efforts and the co-creation of a toolkit and training modules, the partnership is aiming to support the roll-out of school WASH interventions led by the Government of India, benefiting an estimated 30 million children.
Contributing essential products to the fight against COVID-19
Strategic collaboration between the private sector and business is critical during this crisis. Unilever pledged to donate over US$120 million worth of products as part of their COVID-19 response, and we have been working together to ensure global access to some of these life-saving supplies.
Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective things we can do to stop the spread of the virus, but more than 3 billion people around the world do not have access to basic handwashing facilities. Together, we are ensuring soaps and sanitizers are distributed to some of these most vulnerable communities. UNICEF and Unilever have also jointly called on business leaders to step up and ensure that young people are not deprived of the opportunities of tomorrow.
About Unilever
Founded in 1929, Unilever is one of the world’s oldest multinational companies and owns over 400 brands worldwide, employing around 155,000 people. Unilever products are sold in 190 countries and used by an estimated 2.5 billion people each day.
Additional resources
Fighting Poor Sanitation with Domestos
Domestos and UNICEF Help Schools to Get access to Toilets
Dove Partners with UNICEF to Bring Self-Esteem Education to Millions
Hindustan Unilever Partners with UNICEF to Support India's Fight against
COVID-19
Last updated 11 March 2020
