Learn more about advocacy communications in a public-private partnership, and understand the benefits created by aligning multiple stakeholders around a shared narrative.

In 2022, Forster was commissioned to deliver communications for TRANSFORM, an impact accelerator led by Unilever, the UK Government's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and EY.

To reflect the initiative's belief that meaningful change is created collectively by the entrepreneurs, donors, corporate partners, advisors and communities involved, we created a shared platform to amplify the impact created: We TRANSFORM Lives. Our communications strategy was designed to move beyond traditional funder-beneficiary narratives and reinforce the collaborative ethos at the core of the partnership.

As TRANSFORM expanded its focus on local leadership through regional sourcing and selection processes, communications evolved in parallel, creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs to share their expertise, shape conversations and contribute alongside partner organisations.
Over ten years in and the initiative has reached over 21 million lives in 19 countries.

Why join us?

Using four years of experience and insights, this online session is an opportunity to hear directly from the people involved in TRANSFORM, sharing reflections on the communications decisions and lessons that have helped shape the programme's approach to advocacy, storytelling and stakeholder engagement.
Forster Director, Peter Gilheany, will be in conversation with Lisa Hawkes, Global Sustainability Senior Manager at Unilever and programme lead for TRANSFORM and Mary Ngechu, Founder and Patron of TakaTaka Ni Mali, one of the impact enterprises that TRANSFORM has supported over the years.

What to expect

• Practical lessons from advocacy communications within a public-private partnership
• How communications can help advance programme goals rather than simply report on them
• Examples of how entrepreneurs and communities were involved, and the benefits of doing so
• Insights to help develop a shared narrative across multiple organisations and stakeholders
• An open Q&A with the audience

You’ll receive a copy of TRANSFORM's newly published playbook, capturing lessons from more than 10 years of partnership-building to help scale social innovation – and includes a chapter specifically on communications.

This event is being run by Forster Communications, the specialist PR agency focused on tackling the climate crisis, driving social justice and improving lives.

This is the third session in our advocacy communications series. You can catch up on insights from the first two here.