Today’s development challenges – from climate resilience to inclusive economic growth – are vast and deeply interconnected, stretching far beyond the capacity of any single organisation to solve alone. Tackling issues of this scale demands collaboration across sectors, bringing together diverse resources, expertise, and perspectives. Effective public‑private cooperation remains one of the few tools powerful enough to meet the moment.
Since 2015, TRANSFORM – an impact accelerator led by Unilever, the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and EY – has championed firsthand the effectiveness of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Over a decade of collaboration, TRANSFORM has provided innovation grants and pro-bono technical assistance, to over 140 impact enterprises tackling global development challenges in 19 different countries, reaching the lives of over 19 million people. Together, we’ve helped to deliver access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare in remote areas, and new opportunities for improved livelihoods. Here are three lessons we’ve learnt along the way…
Celebrate the collective strengths of programme collaborators
Managing a PPP is no easy feat. Differences in organisational cultures, conflicting priorities, and unequal power dynamics may pose challenges. Yet, when a partnership is approached with mutual respect, transparency, and strong local leadership, challenges can be overcome. This is the foundation upon which TRANSFORM has enabled real change in global development and the same approach that it wants to see continued across other collaborations to drive progress at the scale and ambition the world needs.
To build equitable partnerships, it is important to recognise that each organisation brings distinct strengths and perspectives. That is why TRANSFORM provides impact enterprises with a holistic support system that goes far beyond funding. It offers technical expertise, strategic guidance, and access to Unilever’s vast supply chains. For example, in Bangladesh, with TRANSFORM’s support, the impact enterprise Bhumijo scaled to provide 70 public toilets, serving 2.5 million people. This was achieved through layered support: FCDO funded the building of five new facilities, EY provided in-kind tax and legislative advice, and Unilever brand, Domestos, signed an on-site advertising deal with them. The different strengths of each collaborator supported this enterprise to grow.
Activate local leadership where possible
Experience has taught us the importance of supporting local stakeholders by entrusting them with genuine decision-making authority. In doing so, solutions are not only innovative but also regionally relevant, sustainable in the long-term, and driven by those who understand the challenges best. Since 2023, TRANSFORM has evolved to take this decentralised approach, allowing local teams from Unilever, the British High Commission, and EY to take charge. We hosted seven regionally led challenges to find new impact enterprises, ensuring that local knowledge and expertise drove each stage of the selection process. This approach is already providing meaningful results. For example, a regional challenge held in East Africa led to the discovery of Gwiji. With TRANSFORM’s support, Gwiji has connected over 3,350 women from low-income communities in Nairobi and Mombasa with dignified cleaning jobs, providing them with additional income. Gwiji’s inspiring founder is coached 1:1 by senior EY and Unilever leaders, who act as sounding boards through Gwiji’s growth journey.
Collaboration as the engine for progress
TRANSFORM is 140+ visionary Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) who work alongside corporates, donors, investors, academics and government bodies to scale solutions to global challenges. Importantly, we recognise that these enterprises we work with possess some of the most innovative ideas and solutions. Our mission is to facilitate and accelerate their growth. By equipping leaders with the right skills and confidence, we encourage them to build self-sufficiency and resilience long after the programme ends. To date, we have helped impact enterprises raise more than £50.4 million in follow-on funding. When we invest in collaboration, partnerships deepen and long-term impacts become possible.
In a time defined by increasingly complex global challenges, TRANSFORM’s 10-year milestone has proven that progress thrives where public and private sectors unite. When governments, businesses, and communities work together, innovation gains momentum, resources multiply, and solutions reach the people who need them most. As we look to the decade ahead, the world will demand even bolder partnerships rooted in shared purpose, shared responsibility, and the understanding that collaboration remains the power source behind lasting impact.
The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms
