Innovative ways to strengthen its funding base
As the world’s leading organization for children, UNICEF continuously explores innovative ways to strengthen its funding base and maximize impact for every child. Building on our global pro bono partnership, we worked closely with UNICEF to identify product licensing as a promising opportunity to generate flexible, unrestricted income, while also raising brand visibility and engaging new audiences in their everyday lives.
UNICEF has a long legacy in this space, having successfully offered branded products in the past. With evolving market dynamics and consumer expectations, leadership recognized the importance of revisiting licensing in a modernized, globally coordinated way. To make informed decisions, UNICEF sought an independent, fact-based assessment of the market potential and strategic options.
A robust business case for global product licensing
Together with UNICEF, we designed a robust business case for global product licensing. Our structured approach combined qualitative insights with quantitative modeling, ensuring a reliable foundation for decision-making.
Our work included:
Status quo assessment: Reviewing UNICEF’s current activities, objectives, and brand principles, while capturing perspectives from internal stakeholders.
Market insights: Benchmarking other non-profits and analyzing global licensing markets to identify best practices, royalty models, and agency options.
Market sizing model: Developing a TAM–SAM–SOM-ROM framework to estimate the accessible and obtainable market segments aligned with UNICEF’s values.
Strategic workshops: Engaging UNICEF stakeholders in interactive workshops to validate insights, refine scenarios, and discuss licensing models.
Scenario development: Creating conservative, base case, and optimistic scenarios to illustrate risks and opportunities, helping UNICEF plan with confidence.
Setting the stage for UNICEF to explore the market strategically
The project delivered a clear, independent view of the global licensing opportunity and set the stage for UNICEF to explore the market strategically.
Significant potential: The analysis demonstrated substantial annual revenue potential, achievable over a realistic time horizon.
Strategic focus: A prioritized map of industries and geographies highlighted where UNICEF’s trusted brand could create the most value.
Agency strategy: Options for working with licensing agencies were assessed, providing a transparent view of advantages and trade-offs.
Fact-based decision-making: With triangulated benchmarks and insights, UNICEF is now equipped to prepare RFPs and negotiate with prospective partners from a position of strength.
By pursuing licensing opportunities, UNICEF can create sustainable, unearmarked resources that directly benefit its mission for children. Beyond financial impact, licensing partnerships provide a way to connect UNICEF’s values with people in their everyday choices, expanding awareness, building engagement, and enabling stronger outcomes for children worldwide.
*UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.
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