Food sourcing support for humanitarian and international procurement teams
In short
Humanitarian and international organisations buy under their own procurement rules, vendor registration and audit requirements. Our team can help prepare specifications and, where your rules allow, run supplier outreach on your behalf. We do not bid in your tenders or represent suppliers.
Your organisation's process comes first
- Vendor registration, eligibility screening and award follow your organisation's rules. Suppliers register with you themselves where that is required.
- We do not bid in your tenders, represent suppliers or claim any relationship with your organisation.
- We do not claim experience with any named agency.
Who this is for
- UN agencies and other international organisations
- International NGOs
- Red Cross and Red Crescent societies
- Government aid and development agencies
Not for
- Programmes below a declared USD 250,000
- Equipment or facility projects
See instead: Development projects & NGOs (equipment)
Sourcing problems we help address
Clear specifications for fresh and frozen food
Grade, pack, temperature, shelf life and documents are defined so offers can be compared.
Origin and route constraints
Origin preferences, sanctions screening you apply and destination constraints are written into the request.
Cold chain to the destination
Temperature range and the handover point are stated, so suppliers quote with them in mind.
Documents and donor requirements
Documents and traceability requirements set by your organisation or donors are listed, and supplier documents are checked against them for your request.
Bulk sourcing and the USD 250,000 minimum
Humanitarian programmes are usually procured per call-off, framework agreement or response plan. Declare the total value for the products in scope: from USD 250,000, our team can support the specification and, where your rules allow, supplier outreach.
Products
Cereals, pulses, vegetable oils and specialised nutrition products are outside the current request categories. Contact our team before sending a request for them.
Information our team needs
Leave anything you don't know blank in the form — it is recorded as "unknown", not guessed.
- Organisation and the procurement procedure that applies
- Whether suppliers must be registered with you, and any eligibility rules
- Product, specification, pack and labelling (including language)
- Destination country, handover point and Incoterms® rule
- Temperature range and remaining shelf life required
- Volume per delivery, delivery schedule and programme length
- Document, traceability and donor requirements
- Declared total programme value (annual or seasonal)
How the procurement workflow runs
For international organisations, the request has to fit your vendor registration, eligibility and audit rules. We help prepare the specification and approach producers and exporters that appear able to meet it; any supplier then registers and bids through your process.
How your request is handled
Step 1
Submit one structured request
Product, specification, volumes, delivery points and timing in one form. Nothing is sent to any supplier at this stage.
Step 2
Our team reviews it
We check the declared programme value against the USD 250,000 minimum, ask clarification questions and help complete missing specification points.
Step 3
Our team runs supplier outreach
We approach producers, packers and exporters that appear able to meet your specification, on your behalf. Your name and contact details are not shared without your approval.
Step 4
You compare proposals on the same basis
Offers are set out against the same specification, Incoterms® rule, packaging, documents and timing. Prices come only from supplier quotations for your request; we do not publish price lists.
Questions to answer before you submit
- Which procurement procedure and vendor rules apply?
- What is the destination country, and where is the handover point?
- What temperature range and remaining shelf life are required on arrival?
- Which documents, traceability and donor requirements apply?
- Is this a one-off call-off or part of a framework agreement?
Programme value check
Multiply your own figures to see whether the request reaches the USD 250,000 minimum for an assisted RFQ.
Enter all three figures as positive numbers to see the result.
Calculated only from the figures you enter. It is not a price, quote or approval.
Related guides and tools
What we do not do
- We do not hold stock, own the goods or act as exporter or importer of record.
- We do not publish supplier names, price lists or availability.
- Buyers are never connected to suppliers directly. Every enquiry, question and offer passes through our team, and any introduction happens only after review and with your approval.
- Availability, origin, certifications, prices and lead times are confirmed only for your request, after verification. The producer or supplier remains responsible for the product, its documents and its compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Can you supply emergency food aid?
We do not hold stock and cannot promise emergency availability. Requests are handled through supplier outreach and confirmed per request.
Can you help us reach more potential suppliers?
Yes, within your rules. Our team can approach producers and exporters that appear able to meet your specification; any supplier then follows your registration and tender process.
Is there a minimum order size?
Supplier outreach starts when the declared total annual or seasonal programme value is at least USD 250,000. This is the total for the programme, not the value of each delivery. Smaller requests are kept on file but do not enter supplier outreach.
Will I be put in touch with suppliers directly?
No. Our team handles all supplier contact on your behalf and presents comparable proposals. Your identity and contact details are not shared with any supplier without your approval.
Do you charge buyers?
No. Submitting a request, review and supplier outreach are free for buyers.
Ready to send a structured request?
One form, reviewed by our team. Free for buyers. Supplier outreach starts only for programmes with a declared value of at least USD 250,000.
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