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A group of students at HUL's SAFAL academy for skill building and training

SAFAL: helping bridge India’s employability gap

India faces a significant employability gap with educated youth lacking necessary skills. Additionally, the female labour force participation rate was just 32.8% in 2022, much lower than that of men. While the India Skills Report 2024 notes an improvement in employability to 51.25%, disparities persist across states and demographics. Addressing this gap requires a multifaceted approach. Initiatives like SAFAL (Skills Academy for Advancement of Livelihoods) are vital, as they engage with communities and provide tailored support to improve livelihoods. SAFAL helps build India's more skilled and resilient workforce by focusing on marginalised groups and promoting inclusive growth.

Launch of SAFAL

In early 2020, India faced an unprecedented employment crisis. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic devastated livelihoods nationwide, especially in rural and marginalised communities. The massive economic downturn worsened pre-existing employment challenges, such as low employability and limited job opportunities.

This urgent scenario called for immediate intervention to address the gaps in skills and livelihoods, prompting Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to initiate the Skills Academy for Advancement of Livelihoods (SAFAL). Initially launched as a pilot, SAFAL emerged as a beacon of hope. Focused on empowering youth and marginalised groups, including women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), SAFAL aims to bridge India’s employability gap through skilling, entrepreneurship, job strengthening, and supportive infrastructure development.

SAFAL is now a core component of HUL’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, targeting 21 states and 78 aspirational districts across India. It addresses both the immediate challenges of employability and longer-term sustainability by preparing a workforce for the future.

The SAFAL program’s holistic approach to livelihoods

HUL hosted a series of three design thinking workshops involving internal and external stakeholders to address the critical employment issues faced by India’s youth. Through these workshops, SAFAL’s framework was built to provide targeted training, encourage entrepreneurship, and establish pathways to sustainable livelihoods for the youth, including those with disabilities. This collaborative approach resulted in partnerships with six organisations with proven expertise in youth training, job placement, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure support. These partnerships allow SAFAL to provide tailored, need-based training that leverages digital and in-person learning models.

A group of students at HUL's SAFAL academy for skill building and training

Strategic partnerships driving the SAFAL vision

SAFAL collaborates with partners like Cheshire Disability Trust (CDT), Sarthak Educational Trust, Labournet Liivelihood Foundation (LLF), American India Foundation (AIF), Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Private Limited (HESPL) and National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD). In FY 2022-23, SAFAL impacted key areas like skilling, entrepreneurship, and income generation, fostering inclusivity and economic empowerment.

Each partner contributes unique resources, knowledge, and expertise that align with the SAFAL mission. From specialised training to business formalisation and financial inclusion, these organisations work collaboratively to ensure that the SAFAL program is well-rounded and meets the specific needs of India’s diverse demographic groups. This multifaceted approach enhances the SAFAL initiative's impact, allowing it to address both immediate and long-term employment needs.

Key SAFAL centres and initiatives

  1. SAFAL Livelihood Centers for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

    • Mysuru & Guwahati: Partnering with CDT in Mysuru and Sarthak in Assam, these centres empower PWDs with vital skills in IT/ITES, communication, and other vocational areas. Over two years, they trained 700 youth with disabilities, placing 490 in roles in leading corporates.
  2. SAFAL Sales Pro Academy

    • Mumbai, Hyderabad & Chennai: In partnership with the American India Foundation (AIF), this academy prepares youth for retail sector careers. Training includes customer support, credit processing, and store security, aiming to train 5,000 youth annually.
    • A 15-day, 45-hour program uses a hub-and-spoke model, with AIF as the central hub and partner centres as spokes. Participants gain skills that open doors to sustainable retail careers, enhancing their employability in a growing industry
    • In 2025 SAFAL Sales Pro Academy aims to expand to 11 more locations taking up its footprint from 3 to 14. SAFAL Sales Pro Academy will also participate in the Government of India's ambitious program Pradhan Mantri Internship Scheme (PMIS) for youth.
  3. Youth Retailer Strengthening Program with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions

    • Targeting young micro and nano-entrepreneurs in Uttarakhand, Assam, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha, this program focuses on formalising businesses and improving access to credit. The Yojana Card, issued to eligible retailers, simplifies loan reapplications and promotes financial inclusion.
    • Supporting 20,000 retailers annually, Haqdarshak empowers youth-led businesses with resources to drive economic stability and growth.
  4. Entrepreneurship Programs with National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD)

    • NIESBUD’s Entrepreneurship Awareness Program (EAP) promotes business ventures as viable career paths, with a goal to reach 1,00,000 beneficiaries in 20 states. The program also provides an Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) to further support promising trainees
    • 87% of the beneficiaries surveyed during a 3rd party Impact Assessment study revealed to have pursued entrepreneurship, achieving a 17% income rise and an 80% increase in savings, significantly enhancing their economic independence.
  5. Skilling to Employment Program with Labournet Livelihood Foundation

    • We have partnered with Labournet Livelihood Foundation and UNICEF’s YuWaah Passport to Earning (P2E), to equip 100,000 youth with essential life skills and facilitate 80,000 with job placement linkages.

The path forward

The success of the SAFAL pilot prompted HUL to scale the program nationwide, aiming to build a skilled workforce that is equipped for the future. In its larger implementation phase, SAFAL continues to adapt to the evolving employment landscape, ensuring that India’s youth have access to the skills, opportunities, and support needed to thrive in a competitive job market.

In conclusion, while challenges persist in India's employment landscape, concerted efforts by corporate initiatives like SAFAL, in conjunction with national programs and policies, are essential to bridge the employability gap.

Through SAFAL, HUL demonstrates how strategic CSR initiatives can address critical societal challenges. By building partnerships, offering need-based training, and prioritising inclusivity, SAFAL contributes meaningfully to India’s employment ecosystem, empowering a new generation of workers and entrepreneurs poised to lead the way in the post-pandemic world.

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