Northwestern University—with social impact consulting firm Mission Measurement and international development experts DAI—will evaluate a newly announced Walmart initiative designed to empower 60,000 women working in factories supplying the multinational retail giant and other retailers.The five-year initiative announced by Walmart earlier this month will target women in India, Bangladesh, China and Central America and, collaborating with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), teach them critical life skills including hygiene, communications, reproductive health and occupational health and safety.

Mission Measurement’s corporate practice is based on a simple premise: By focusing on the value of social impact outcomes, we can develop new corporate strategies that drive profit while doing good.We call it the Social Value Proposition (SVP). It’s that sweet spot where profit intersects social impact. And it’s gaining traction with companies—from family-run mom and pops to the Fortune 50.Over the last year, we’ve seen our approach to SVP-based strategies build momentum, as we formed partnerships with standard-bearers like PepsiCo, McDonalds, BMO Harris Bank, Cisco and The Walt Disney Company.

Walmart has just announced a five-year plan to make thousands of its store-brand packaged foods healthier as well as less costly.  The plan comes with the support of First Lady Michelle Obama, a champion for nutrition, healthy living and the reduction of child obesity.