Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF: Empowering more than 12.4 Million* Girls with STEM education Through Localized Solutions that Drive Global Change

Ha Noi, 28 May 2025 – Global luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté is committed to unlocking the potential of girls through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

With women making up less than 30 percent of the global STEM workforce^,[2] the gender gap in STEM education remains a critical barrier to progress in these crucial fields.

Supporting UNICEF’s gender equality programmes, the Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF partnership launched in 2019 and equips young girls with STEM skills and increases access to training opportunities. Since the partnership started, more than 12.4 million girls around the world have benefited from these programmes.

In Viet Nam, as digital transformation accelerates, women face a heightened risk of job displacement due to the significant gender imbalance in STEM fields, which remain predominantly male. Currently, only 20 per cent of STEM educators and students are women^[3]. Although most teachers in Viet Nam do not perceive differences in teaching boys and girls, 26 per cent believe that girls perform worse with digital devices, and many consider STEM careers unsuitable for girls^[4]. These perceptions and structural barriers underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to support girls in STEM and ensure they are not left behind in the digital economy.

The partnership is addressing the root causes of gender inequality in STEM through Skills4Girls, a series of tailored, community-driven programmes that empower adolescent girls with 21st-century skills, break gender barriers and open pathways to STEM careers. These programmes are made possible through continued funding from a portion of the sales of one of Clé de Peau Beauté’s best-selling products, The Serum.

By tailoring programmes to address the skills gap for adolescent girls in different contexts, Skills4Girls is driving lasting community impact. The programmes range from AI-focused science camps equipping rural girls with digital skills, to mentorships inspiring young women by connecting them with female STEM leaders.

To witness this progress firsthand, in early 2025, Clé de Peau Beauté travelled to one of the countries supported by the partnership, Kyrgyzstan, where girls make up only 9 percent of students pursuing natural science and technology fields. Skills4Girls is working to address this gap by equipping 15–17-year-old girls in Kyrgyzstan with STEM knowledge, transferable skills, and leadership training.

Naomi Kawanishi, Deputy Chief Brand Officer of Clé de Peau Beauté, reflected on her experience: “Through our partnership with UNICEF, we are equipping girls with the support they need to thrive. In Kyrgyzstan, we witnessed the true impact of these programmes firsthand, which goes far beyond numbers. Training courses and peer-to-peer learning are helping girls build STEM expertise while also developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills – instilling confidence every step of the way. By integrating both hard and soft skills, our partnership isn’t just preparing girls for STEM careers; it’s empowering them to take charge of their futures and drive meaningful change.”

The Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF partnership is bridging local impact with global change, championing education as the key to unlocking the power of girls. 

“Adolescent girls have the power to transform the world. With equal access to education, skills and training, this power will be unleashed. Our partnership with Clé de Peau Beauté has provided opportunities for millions of girls to learn science subjects and gain the skills needed to fulfil their potential. Together, we are not only empowering individual girls, we are providing whole communities with a foundation for sustainable growth,” said UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships Carla Haddad Mardini

Through its cause-related marketing campaign with The Serum, Clé de Peau Beauté has made the world’s largest private-sector pledge to UNICEF’s gender equality programmes – US$17.4 million – proving that business can be a force for transformative change. By empowering girls with knowledge, skills, and confidence, the Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF partnership is shaping the future of STEM and redefining possibilities for millions of young women worldwide.

Notes to Editors:

The Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF partnership supports UNICEF’s gender equality programmes in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Namibia, Niger, Peru, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.

About Clé de Peau Beauté

Clé de Peau Beauté, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co Ltd, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Clé de Peau Beauté means the key to skin’s beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Clé de Peau Beauté has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 26 countries and regions worldwide.

Clé de Peau Beauté Official Website: www.cledepeau-beaute.com

Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF Landing Page: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com.vn/vi/cpb-for-unicef.html

The Serum Campaign Landing Page: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com.vn/vi/A21409_vn.html 

Clé de Peau Beauté Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. Visit www.unicef.org.

Notes:

[*] Since the Clé de Peau Beauté for UNICEF partnership launched in 2019.

[2] Building Back Equal, With and For Adolescent Girls: A Programme Strategy for UNICEF 2022-2025

[3] UNCT in Viet Nam, 2025

[4] UNICEF EAPRO, 2023