Alliance Boots has partnered with international development charity BBC Media Action to help play "a supporting role in international healthcare initiatives".

The move came after BBC Media Action launched its corporate partnership scheme, which, according to Alliance Boots, aims to create partnerships with companies that have "well-developed" corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes in place.

Ornella Barra, chairman of the Alliance Boots social responsibilities committee, said the company was "delighted" with the partnership. "We believe BBC Media Action's mission complements our CSR strategy very well," she explained. "This is a natural fit for Alliance Boots as partnerships play a pivotal role in our CSR agenda."

In a statement last year, the company's executive chairman Stefano Pessina had highlighted the importance of CSR, stressing that businesses had "a clear duty to play their part" in the tough economic climate.