What is supplied in advance against a need. Provision is care made material before it is asked for.
Latin provisio (foresight, a foreseeing), from providere: pro- (ahead) + videre (to see); a provision is care made material in advance, the physical proof that a need was foreseen before it was asked for.
What is supplied in advance against a need not yet felt. The root's foresight is what separates provision from a simple gift: it was made ready before it was asked for.