How innovation-friendly procurement can make humanitarian aid more sustainable

Innovation-friendly procurement: Rethinking procurement in the humanitarian sector

By shifting from rigid, compliance-based processes to flexible, outcome-driven strategies, humanitarian organizations can unlock faster, greener, and more effective solutions. A recent webinar hosted by the Humanitarian Innovation Programme, in collaboration with Solvoz and the WORM project, shed light on how this transformation is taking shape.

Moving beyond compliance: The need for a paradigm shift

One of the most persistent myths in the sector is that procurement is a standalone operational function. But as Claire Barnhoorn, CEO and founder of Solvoz, emphasized during the webinar, sustainable procurement must be embedded into an organization’s DNA — from policy to practice.

“It’s about setting sustainability targets in our policies and how we specify the technical criteria of our products and supplier assessments.”
The implication is clear: procurement is not just about buying things. It is about making strategic decisions that impact everything from climate outcomes to local economic development.

Designing for outcomes, not just inputs

Rigid technical specifications have long been a barrier to innovation. Vegard Landén, Operations Manager at Laerdal Global Health, shared a telling example: their upright resuscitator bag — proven more effective than traditional models — took nearly a decade to be adopted into humanitarian catalogues due to inflexible requirements.

This is where performance-based specifications come into play. Rather than dictating how a solution must be built, they define what the solution must achieve. “If we focus on outcomes — like patient survival rates or carbon reduction — rather than exact specs, we allow for creativity and rapid improvement,” Landén explained.

Building open dialogue into the procurement process

Innovation thrives on communication. Deepak Goel of Geetanjali Textiles stressed the importance of active dialogue between procurement professionals, humanitarian implementers, and green solution providers.

“Ongoing conversations help buyers understand what's possible, and help suppliers understand what’s needed,” Goel said. This co-creation process is especially vital for sustainability, where new materials, models, and certifications are emerging rapidly.

A more agile, innnovation-friendly approach

Lorena Muñoz Carmona, Sustainability & Partnership Manager at BRIGHT Products, outlined how a more open, innovation-friendly procurement process helps humanitarian actors tap into the full potential of the private sector.

“Engaging in a dialogue that focuses on performance enables the private sector to leverage their creativity and expertise, leading to the discovery of the most sustainable and effective solutions.” This model does not just reward low cost — it rewards impact, scalability, and sustainability.

The way froward: procurement as a strategic lever

With up to two-thirds of humanitarian spending related to procurement, the sector has a unique opportunity to lead on climate and innovation. But doing so requires systemic change. Organizations must:
• Embed sustainability targets in overarching policies — not just procurement manuals
• Embrace performance-based specifications to unlock new ideas
• Build inclusive platforms for supplier collaboration
• Train procurement officers as strategic sustainability champions

A system ready for change

Innovation-friendly procurement is more than a policy tweak. It is a shift in mindset — one that treats suppliers as partners, outcomes as the goal, and procurement as a driver of innovation. By making this transition, humanitarian organizations can dramatically reduce their environmental impact, enhance service delivery, and lead by example in the global sustainability movement.