Uber CEO Dara Khosrovshahi said her company gave WFP "its brand, Uber."
Written byTimes Magazine
Uber has developed a "private label" version of its delivery platform to help the United Nations deliver food and water to war-torn Ukraine.
The technology company collaborates with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
The large van is struggling to reach parts of Ukraine due to structural damage and threats of attack.
The Uber platform allows WFP to coordinate a smaller fleet of vehicles.
WFP manually selects its drivers and vehicles, but some of them are former Uber drivers who worked in Ukraine before the Russian invasion.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrovshahi said her company gave WFP "its brand, Uber."
This is a pre-ordered version of the Uber Direct delivery platform, available in stores - big customers including Apple and Tesco. Businesses typically pay Uber a delivery fee for the service, but WFP is free of charge.
It can use software to coordinate distribution and track shipments and drivers within 100km of its warehouse.
The Uber platform was launched within weeks of its first exposure to the World Food Programme.
"It's not like waiting a month to get food from people - people have to get food right away," said WFP Executive Director David Beasley.
"You can't go weeks without eating, and that's why leveraging Uber's technology, their distribution system, their delivery system ... it's a huge win."
Driving to delivery
Uber has been in turmoil for several years. Its ride-sharing service has been badly hit during the pandemic as people stay home, and the company is forced to reform its driver policies to give them better rights for workers.
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