WAVE Supplier Portal (IOM)

The WAVE Supplier Portal is the International Organization for Migration's dedicated procurement interface, allowing suppliers to register their company profile, browse IOM's open tenders, and submit bids for contracts across camp management, medical screening, transportation, software development, and facility management.

What is the WAVE Supplier Portal?

IOM procures approximately $300 million annually in goods and services to support migration management, humanitarian assistance, and displacement response in more than 150 countries. The WAVE portal is IOM's primary e-procurement interface, sitting alongside ungm as a route to IOM opportunities. Suppliers create a vendor profile in WAVE, select the commodity categories that match their capabilities, and receive alerts for relevant tenders. The portal supports the full sourcing cycle from tender notice to bid submission.

Because IOM's procurement mandate is migration-specific, its contract categories are distinctive: camp infrastructure and management, medical services for migrant screening, passenger transportation, logistics for voluntary return programmes, and technology platforms for case management. Procurement volumes and the urgency of tenders correlate with displacement events and migration flows, so the timing of IOM opportunities is less predictable than development-cycle procurement at agencies like UNDP.

Why the WAVE Supplier Portal matters for bidders

Suppliers in humanitarian services, logistics, construction, and health who want to work with IOM need a WAVE profile before they can submit bids. Registration is separate from UNGM Basic Registration, so suppliers should complete both to ensure full visibility across the UN system and full participation in IOM-specific processes. Because IOM tenders can issue rapidly in response to emerging crises, having an up-to-date WAVE profile and category alert configuration means suppliers are ready to respond without the administrative lag of registering under deadline. IOM's decentralised structure means many contracts are awarded by country offices, so checking both global and country-level tender feeds is worthwhile.

FAQ

Is the WAVE Supplier Portal the same as UNGM?

No. WAVE is IOM's own supplier and e-tendering platform. UNGM aggregates notices from 40+ UN agencies, including some IOM opportunities, but full participation in IOM procurement, including bid submission, requires a WAVE account.

What kinds of contracts does IOM typically procure?

IOM procurement covers camp management, medical screening for migrants, passenger transport and charter services, logistics for voluntary return programmes, facility management, software development, and emergency supplies related to displacement operations.

Does IOM procurement follow the UN Procurement Manual?

IOM is not a formal UN agency but coordinates closely with the UN system. Its procurement rules are distinct from the UN Procurement Manual, though they follow comparable principles of competition, transparency, and best value.