Ahlström Collective Impact will continue supporting UNICEF’s global education efforts in 2025 and remains committed to advancing children’s rights in business. The initiative is also proud to welcome a new member to the network, Metsäkonepalvelu.

This year, Ahlström Collective Impact’s contribution to UNICEF’s education work amounts to over €750,000. Support from the private sector is critically important in today’s increasingly complex global landscape, where cuts by several donor countries to international aid threaten UNICEF’s global efforts to uphold children’s rights.

“Companies and foundations play a central role in promoting children’s rights. It’s inspiring to see that in these geopolitically challenging times, Ahlström Collective Impact is strengthening its commitment to children’s well-being and reinforcing the essential work of integrating children’s rights into business,” says Annina Tanhuanpää, Executive director of UNICEF Finland.

As part of our shared commitment, member organizations within the ACI network are aiming to integrate a child rights perspective into their sustainability strategies—ensuring that both direct and indirect impacts on children are recognized and addressed. We continue to deepen our expertise through dedicated training sessions organized by UNICEF Finland, which focus on the intersection of children’s rights, business practices, and corporate responsibility. These trainings are a cornerstone of our development, and we further amplify our engagement through initiatives like the World Children’s Day campaign, where staff across the network come together to champion children’s rights in meaningful and visible ways.

“Social responsibility is not a trend – it is a necessity. We believe that social responsibility is the natural next step after focusing on environmental sustainability. It is time for companies to step up. Society alone is not moving fast enough, and responsible businesses have a critical role to play – just as workplace safety once became a non-negotiable norm, so must social impact. Social responsibility is also deeply rooted in leadership values. In today’s volatile world, value-based leadership matters more than ever. We know that investing in children’s education is one of the most powerful ways to drive long-term, systemic change. Because building a more sustainable, equal future is not charity – it is a responsibility. – Nelli Paasikivi-Ahlström, Chair of Ahlström collective Impact

ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL LEARNING CRISIS

Children’s learning is a global crisis, where up to 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot understand a simple written text. The situation is especially dire in sub-Saharan Africa. The digital divide is also widening, with the majority of school-aged children living in households without internet access.

Member organizations of Ahlström Collective Impact support UNICEF’s education efforts to address these challenges. The Ahlström family’s commitment to children’s education has

also expanded this year to a new initiative, with the Eva Ahlström Foundation joining a Nordic funding group supporting UNICEF’s research center Innocenti’s “Every Child Learning” pioneer project.

UNICEF is the world’s most influential children’s organization, promoting education in 150 countries. It provides education in crisis zones, challenges attitudes that hinder schooling, promotes quality teaching, and defends the rights of children with disabilities and minorities to education. The work focuses both on grassroots change and the development of entire education systems in collaboration with national authorities.

ABOUT AHLSTRÖM COLLECTIVE IMPACT

The Ahlström Collective Impact collaboration model was launched in 2020. It brings together companies and foundations from the Ahlström network to invest in children’s well-being through selected UNICEF projects aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The support for UNICEF’s education work in 2025 is over €750,000. Members include: Ahlstrom, A. Ahlström, Ahlström Invest, Avain Yhtiöt, Destia, Detection Technology, Eva Ahlström Foundation, Glaston, Metsäkonepalvelu, M&J Recycling, Suominen, and the Walter Ahlström Foundation.