A great (and now famous) example of CSR in action. We are looking at Unilever’s Project Shakti at our AQA BUSS4 CPD days next week. Looks of great research and analysis potential here for students.

Project Shakti (meaning “strength”) connects self-help groups with business opportunities. Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL), Unilever’s company in India, offers the women groups the chance to become very local, small-scale sellers of its products. With a loan from a self-help group or a micro-finance bank (facilitated by HLL), each entrepreneur buys a small stock of items such as soap, detergent or shampoo, which are then sold direct to consumers in their homes. Working in conjunction with the local district authorities, HLL provides free training on the basics of business management and selling techniques. Ongoing support once the business is up and running is also provided.

Here is a 7 minute video which tells the story of one of the rural entrepreneurs created by Project Shakti.