- Since 2019, their partnership has supported over 12.4 million girls globally through the Skills4Girls programme.
- From AI workshops in Vietnam to STEM and leadership training in Kyrgyzstan, the initiative addresses gender gaps with context-specific solutions.
- Cle de Peau Beauté has donated US $17.4M via sales of The Serum, marking the biggest private support to UNICEF’s gender equality efforts.
Acknowledging that women presently make up less than 30 per cent of the world's STEM workforce, and thus are increasingly behind in creating an imposing gender gap, Cle de Peau Beaute has partnered with UNICEF since 2019 to address this issue. The collaboration aims to provide girls with core skills in STEM and increase their access to special training.
Since its founding, the partnership has enabled over 12.4 million girls globally. In Vietnam, where women hold just 20 per cent of STEM teachers and students, this sharp imbalance heightens the risk of displacement in a rapidly digitalizing economy.
The center of the initiative is the Skills4Girls programme, a collection of context-driven initiatives that combat gender disparities in STEM. The programmes equip teenage girls with the skills they need for the future by developing 21st-century skills, breaking down systemic barriers, and ushering them into innovative science and technology careers. Part of the sales of The Serum, one of Cle de Peau Beaute's top products, guarantees a steady fund for these initiatives. By reorienting projects to address local conditions and responding to the specific skills needs of adolescent girls, Skills4Girls is creating lasting impact. Projects range from AI-based science clubs for village youths to mentoring programs matching girls with successful female role models in STEM.
Early in 2025, Cle de Peau Beaute embarked on a journey to Kyrgyzstan, among the nations that are set to benefit from the collaboration, to see firsthand its effects on the ground. In this Central Asian country, only 9 percent of girls pursuing science and technology are students. Skills4Girls is turning that around by providing STEM education alongside soft skills and leadership development to girls aged between 15 and 17. Naomi Kawanishi, Cle de Peau Beaute Global Brand Vice President, looks back "By working with UNICEF, we are equipping girls with what they need to thrive. In Kyrgyzstan, we have witnessed firsthand how life-changing these programmes can be beyond statistics".
The interactive learning experiences and training sessions are assisting participants to develop true technical expertise in STEM, along with creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills, building confidence at each step. By mixing technical skill with key life skills, our collaboration not only equips girls with a future in STEM careers, but also enables them to chart their own futures and drive positive change. Cle de Peau Beaute and UNICEF's collaboration shows how local influence drives global change by making education the foundation to unlock girls' potential.
"Adolescent girls have tremendous potential to transform the world. When they are given equal opportunity to learn, skills and training, their power can be unleashed", stated Carla Haddad Mardini, UNICEF Director of Resource Mobilisation and Private Sector Partnerships. “Our partnership with Clé de Peau Beauté has opened pathways for millions of girls to explore science and gain the tools they need to thrive. Together, we are doing more than empowering individuals we are laying the groundwork for sustainable development”.
Through its social campaign for Essence The Serum, Cle de Peau Beaute has made the largest private sector donation to UNICEF's gender equality initiative to date at US $17.4 million, confirming business as a force for change. By empowering girls with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive, the collaboration between Cle de Peau Beaute and UNICEF is redefining the future of STEM, and unlocking potential for millions of young women across the globe.
