Unilever and UK government ally on global anti-poverty initiative

Unilever has announced a new campaign to tackle poverty worldwide, in partnership with the UK government's Department for International Development.

The project aims to create jobs, improve access to water and sanitation, and build more sustainable supply chains in developing countries, improving the lives of millions while reducing reliance on international aid.

New social business models will be developed to improve health, hygiene and livelihoods for 100 million people by 2025, while the organisations will each contribute five million pounds to a research and innovation programme focused on affordable sanitation and safe drinking water.

This partnership is the first of its kind between a leading international business and the UK's Department for International Development.

Paul Polman, chief executive officer of Unilever, said: "This sets ambitious and measurable targets across our entire supply chain, such as empowering women, encouraging hand-washing to fight disease and helping a billion people take action to improve their health and wellbeing by 2020."

The company also announced partnerships to improve its supply chain sustainability with the World Resources Institute and Solidaridad earlier this month.