Virtual Food Banking Programme (VFB)
The Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) Virtual Food Banking Programme is an innovative food recovery and redistribution initiative designed to improve access to food for vulnerable individuals and families while reducing food waste.
- SDG 2 Zero Hunger
- SDG 3 Good Health & Well-being
- SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
The challenge
An estimated 35 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity. Recent assessments project that up to 33.5 million people could experience crisis-level hunger or worse by mid-2027.
The rising cost of food and transport, driven by inflation, climate change and insecurity, has significantly weakened household purchasing power. Basic nutrition is now unaffordable for tens of millions of low-income families, many of whom still struggle to know where their next meal will come from.
At the same time, significant quantities of edible food are lost or wasted across the food supply chain, including surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants and food vendors, and cancelled orders. This is an opportunity to bridge the gap between food surplus and food insecurity through innovative food recovery and redistribution.
How Virtual Food Banking works
Through strategic partnerships with grocery stores, restaurants, food vendors and logistics companies, the programme facilitates the rescue of surplus food, cancelled food orders and essential non-food items that would otherwise go to waste.
Rather than relying solely on physical food collection at the warehouse and in community outreaches, the virtual food banking model uses a network of volunteers and partners to recover food. Volunteers collect available surplus food directly from participating businesses, or coordinate with logistics partners so that rescued items reach beneficiaries where they are.
This approach enables LFBI to respond more efficiently to food needs, expand its reach, minimise food waste, and make sure available resources get to the people who need them most.
Our impact since 2023
These results show what collaborative food recovery can do to address hunger while reducing food waste.
Goals and objectives
In line with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the programme seeks to:
Improve access to nutritious food
Increase access to healthy, locally sourced food for food-insecure individuals and families.
Promote health and well-being
Improve the nutritional status and overall well-being of vulnerable individuals by facilitating access to nutritious food.
Ensure equitable food distribution
Establish an efficient redistribution system that makes sure rescued food reaches the underserved communities and individuals who need it most.
Reduce food waste
Recover and redistribute edible surplus food and suitable essential items that would otherwise be thrown away.
Strengthen sustainable food systems
Contribute to long-term food security by building a reliable, sustainable supply chain for surplus food recovery and redistribution.
Who we serve
- Food-insecure individuals and vulnerable households, particularly those with limited access to nutritious and affordable food
Partnership opportunities
Do you own or know a grocery store, restaurant, food business or logistics company with surplus food, cancelled orders or essential non-food items that could benefit vulnerable communities? Partner with us so these resources are recovered and redistributed to people who need them.
Restaurants and food businesses
Contribute surplus meals, cancelled food orders and other edible items not sold or needed at the end of the business day.
Grocery stores and supermarkets
Contribute surplus food items and essential food and non-food items that are still suitable for use.
Logistics companies
Provide transport and delivery services to help collect rescued food and get it to beneficiaries.
Why partner with us
Through your partnership, your business can:
- Reduce food waste by putting surplus food to good use
- Support vulnerable individuals and families experiencing food insecurity
- Contribute to environmental sustainability
- Make a measurable social impact in the communities where you operate
Talk to our partnerships team
Get in touch to discuss how your business can take part.
Call 0916 094 2161 or 0906 029 1044, or email partnership@lagosfoodbank.org
Volunteer with us
Be part of the movement to rescue food and fight hunger. Join our network of volunteers and help make sure rescued food reaches vulnerable individuals and families.
How to join
Complete the LFBI Volunteer Registration Form, attend the mandatory volunteer orientation, and let us know you want to join the Virtual Food Banking Programme.
After orientation, you will be assigned to a volunteer category based on your interests, skills, availability and location.
Frequently asked questions
Corporate partners
How can I partner with Lagos Food Bank Initiative as a restaurant owner, grocery store or logistics company?
Lagos Food Bank Initiative is always happy to work with restaurants, grocery stores, supermarkets, food vendors and logistics companies that share our passion for reducing food waste and making sure surplus food gets to the people who need it most. Read our partnership FAQs, call 0916 094 2161 or 0906 029 1044, or email partnership@lagosfoodbank.org.
What does my business need to contribute to the programme?
Restaurants and food businesses can contribute surplus meals, cancelled food orders and other edible items not sold or needed at the end of the business day. Grocery stores and supermarkets can contribute surplus food items and essential food and non-food items that are still suitable for use. Logistics companies can support the programme by providing transport and delivery services for food collection and redistribution.
How does LFBI collect surplus food from participating businesses?
Once a participating business identifies surplus food for collection, Lagos Food Bank Initiative coordinates with its logistics partners and volunteers in or around the business location. The logistics company moves the food to the designated pickup point, where volunteers collect it and distribute it to beneficiaries in nearby communities.
How can I be sure the donated items get to the beneficiaries?
Lagos Food Bank Initiative coordinates and monitors collection and distribution through its network of logistics partners and registered volunteers. Volunteers collect the donated items and distribute them to beneficiaries in and around the business location. This promotes accountability and makes sure donated items reach the intended recipients.
What are the benefits of partnering with LFBI’s Virtual Food Banking Programme?
Your business can reduce food waste by putting surplus food to good use, support vulnerable individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing avoidable food waste, and make a measurable social impact in the communities where it operates.
Funders and international donors
Why was the Virtual Food Banking Programme established?
The programme was established to address food waste while supporting people experiencing food insecurity. It gives businesses a way to redirect surplus food to people who need it rather than dispose of it.
How do you identify the restaurants and businesses that have surplus food to donate?
LFBI engages restaurants, grocery stores, supermarkets and other food businesses to establish partnerships. Participating businesses notify LFBI when surplus food, cancelled orders or other eligible items are available for collection.
How do you make sure the food reaches people who need it?
LFBI maintains a consolidated database of beneficiaries across Lagos. Through its logistics partners and registered volunteers, donated items are collected and distributed to beneficiaries in and around the participating business locations.
What happens if a restaurant has surplus food but no volunteer is available to collect it?
LFBI coordinates collections based on volunteer and logistics availability, and makes collection arrangements so that available food can be picked up and redistributed promptly.
Does the programme only benefit people in Lagos?
No. The Virtual Food Banking Programme extends beyond Lagos to other states across Nigeria, including Abuja (FCT), Rivers (Port Harcourt), Kaduna, Plateau, Kwara, Borno, Taraba and Imo, among others.
Volunteers
How can I become a VFB volunteer?
Complete the LFBI Volunteer Registration Form, attend the mandatory volunteer orientation, and indicate your interest in joining the Virtual Food Banking Programme. After orientation, you will be assigned to a suitable volunteer category based on your interests, skills and availability.
Do I need to attend an orientation before volunteering?
Yes. All first-time volunteers must attend LFBI’s volunteer orientation, where you will learn about the organisation’s mission, volunteer expectations, safety guidelines and available roles.
What happens after I complete the registration form?
After registration and orientation, you will be assigned to a suitable volunteer category based on your interests, skills and availability.
What will my responsibilities be as a VFB volunteer?
You will help collect surplus food from designated logistics collection points or participating businesses, and distribute the items to identified beneficiaries in and around the business location.
Can I volunteer in my neighbourhood?
Yes. LFBI coordinates volunteers based on their locations to support food collection and distribution in and around participating businesses.
How do I get started?
Complete the registration form to start your volunteer journey.
Beneficiaries
How can I benefit from the Virtual Food Banking Programme?
You can visit the Lagos Food Bank Initiative office to register in person. Our Beneficiary Management Team will guide you through registration and tell you which documents you need.
Does registering guarantee that I will receive food?
No. Registration does not automatically guarantee food assistance. Support depends on beneficiary identification, the availability of rescued food and operational arrangements in your location.
How will I receive the donated food?
Registered LFBI volunteers collect available surplus food from designated logistics collection points and distribute it to identified beneficiaries in and around the business location.
How often will I receive food?
Food availability depends on donations from participating businesses, so distributions vary and are not guaranteed daily or weekly.
Can I receive food if I live outside Lagos?
Yes. The programme extends to other states across Nigeria, including Abuja, Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Kwara, Borno, Taraba and Imo, among others, subject to operational availability in your location.
Give What You Can. Rescue Food. Fight Hunger.
Partner with us to rescue surplus food, or join our network of volunteers.