DHL Group has launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), a new global capacity-building initiative designed to strengthen logistics capabilities among humanitarian organisations and improve the efficiency of aid delivery worldwide.
Introduced in Sub-Saharan Africa with a launch event in Johannesburg, the programme provides practical, pro bono logistics training for nonprofit organisations, with a particular focus on local and regional responders. Participants receive hands-on guidance in key areas such as customs procedures, dangerous goods handling, packaging and safety.
The academy forms part of DHL Group’s GoHelp corporate citizenship programme and aims to help humanitarian organisations improve operational readiness, reduce delays and enhance supply chain performance before emergencies occur.
Christoph Selig, Vice President Sustainability Communications and Programs at DHL Group, said: “Humanitarian needs are becoming more complex and more frequent, driven by a combination of climate-related events, protracted crises and evolving risk environments. At the same time, the humanitarian system is shifting toward more anticipatory approaches and stronger local ownership. In this context, logistics plays a central role in enabling aid to move efficiently and reach those who need it most. With the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics, we are building on our experience in disaster response and preparedness to strengthen practical capabilities across the sector and support more effective, locally driven operations.”
DAHL represents the third pillar of DHL’s GoHelp programme, which has supported disaster response and preparedness efforts for more than two decades. The initiative complements DHL’s Disaster Response Teams and the Get Airports Ready for Disaster programme by helping humanitarian organisations manage logistics operations more independently and effectively.
The programme has already been piloted globally, training more than 650 participants from over 80 NGOs. According to DHL, 96 percent of participants rated the training as valuable, highlighting the demand for practical logistics expertise within the humanitarian sector.
As part of its expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa, DAHL will deliver training sessions across South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria throughout 2026.
George Wood, Director Customer Operations Sub-Saharan Africa at DHL Express and an active GoHelp volunteer, said: “Sub-Saharan Africa presents both significant logistical challenges and some of the most resourceful and adaptive response environments. We consistently see how local humanitarian organisations innovate and respond under pressure, often with limited resources. By further equipping these organizations with practical, hands-on logistics knowledge, we can help strengthen preparedness and improve the efficiency of response operations on the ground.”
The academy offers a flexible learning model combining in-person workshops, virtual sessions, warehouse assessments and e-learning modules. All training is delivered free of charge by experienced DHL logistics professionals.
