HUL partners with UNICEF to launch COVID-19 campaign

Mumbai, April 8, 2020: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has collaborated with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to launch a mass communication campaign towards empowering the general public against COVID-19. The campaign brings together the marketing expertise and scale of HUL and the technical knowledge of UNICEF to create engaging communication tools that can help people change behaviour and stay safe during this time of the pandemic.

The pan-India campaign, to be run through television, news portals and prominent social media channels, aims to create awareness on three key themes - Social Distancing, Handwashing and Generosity.

"The mass media campaign, titled ‘#BreakTheChain’ / #VirusKiKadiTodo’ will have simple yet powerful informative to empower the general public with prevention strategies to protect themselves against COVID-19," a press release shared by HUL India read.

Talking about the campaign, Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman and MD, Hindustan Unilever Limited said, "The need of the hour is simple and effective communication across both urban and rural India to help fight COVID-19 and our partnership with UNICEF aims to do just that. Furthermore, we need to come together as a nation and be supportive of each other during this crisis. Our campaign will help address these challenges and at scale. Along with UNICEF, we are also committed to working with the government and making essentials like Lifebuoy soaps, hand sanitizers and Domex cleaners available across a wide geography which is the most critical need today."

The campaign will also seek support from media organisations, macro and micro social media influencers, thought leaders and celebrities in spreading the message. The campaign communication assets will be disseminated through the extensive rural reach of both organisations to reach the most vulnerable populations.

Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, India Representative, UNICEF, India said, "COVID-19 disease has thrown up many challenges and among them is getting the right information to everyone, no matter where they live and whatever their situation, in the shortest time possible. Our partnership with Hindustan Unilever Limited is important as it leverages HUL’s communications strength as well as rural marketing outreach with UNICEF’s technical expertise and messaging. We hope that through this effort, we are able to bridge the communication gaps by sharing information to contain the spread of the disease."

HUL had also recently committed INR 100 crore towards helping India fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the campaign, it is rolling out many initiatives to ensure citizens across the country have access to essential products such as soaps, sanitizers and toilet cleaners.

UNICEF works across more than 190 countries and territories to help the world’s most disadvantaged children.