business.un.org, Partnering for a better world

Donations that do not address the priority needs of victims are generally unhelpful. Unsolicited goods can clog harbours or airports preventing vital supplies from reaching victims in time. It may also cost a great deal of money to destroy or move them elsewhere.

It is crucial to consider the relative costs and delays involved in transporting in-kind donations, particularly if your company does not have locations near the emergency area. For instance, the cost of sorting, labelling, and transporting food may be higher than the cost of immediately buying it in the country of need or in a neighbouring country.

The deployment of untrained volunteers can also have negative ramifications. Disaster areas are generally dangerous and access is often limited to critical staff based on their expertise, language proficiency and cultural awareness. In-kind donations that the UN is able to effectively use are typically worth $10,000 – $5 million in value.

Some examples of goods and services that the UN will not accept:

• Medicines that do not meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for product donations or that are near expiry. Medicines must have a shelf life of at least six months after arriving in a country.
• Untested new technologies or used goods.

NOTE: If you are not sure whether your proposal can be used by the UN, please go ahead and make it. If it cannot be used, the site will help connect you with organisations that may be in a position to accept goods and services that the UN cannot accept.