Frequently Asked Questions

ProFound – Advisers In Development is a consultancy company. We support local import generation and sustainable sourcing by linking natural ingredients producers to the market. We develop sustainable value chains for natural ingredients for food, cosmetics and health products.

See our team page for more information about our individual qualities and motivations. Or read about ProFound’s mission and principles on our About us page.

ProFound develops sustainable value chains of natural ingredients. We do so through four solutions: Market Analysis, Business Planning, Rural Finance and Market Access.

Our solutions focus on business. We believe entrepreneurs make the difference. Our solutions provide them with incentives and capacities to capture economic opportunities. At the same time, we help them to make their supply chains more sustainable and improve circumstances in their communities.

Our team works in many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeastern Europe. Currently, we have projects in Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Colombia. See our pages with stories from the field to learn what we do in these countries.

ProFound believes a sustainably managed value chain of natural ingredient can transform rural areas. Natural ingredients provide much needed income for collectors and farmers. They also bring business opportunities to entrepreneurs. Also, sustainable collection and cultivation in biodiverse production systems can improve soils and sustain biodiversity. Moreover, our 25+ years of experience in natural ingredients makes this the sector where we can contribute most to sustainable development.

Natural ingredients are raw and processed materials from wild-collection or cultivation. We work with value-added natural ingredients for food, health and cosmetics industries with a particular interest in non-commodity ingredients.

CSR is integral to developing sustainable value chains in the natural ingredients sector. In our approach we contribute in particular to local economic development and maintaining biodiversity. We believe local economic development can be achieved by ensuring fair incomes and working conditions, not only with the suppliers we support directly but also for collectors and farmers that supply them. This goes hand in hand with coaching suppliers to sustain and regenerate biodiversity by protecting plants and soils.

We work for a variety of clients, ranging from government agencies, multilateral institutions, and NGOs to businesses. Our main clients work in trade promotion, private sector and rural development, sustainability and standards and certification. See our clients page to learn more about our work for specific clients.

Thank you for your interest in our company. You can send an e-mail to  Geertje Otten: mail@ThisIsProFound.com.

If you are interested in working at our company, you can send an e-mail with your CV and motivation to Geertje Otten: mail@ThisIsProFound.com.