DHL Group has launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), a global capacity-building program delivering free, practical logistics training to nonprofit and humanitarian organizations.
Introduced as part of DHL’s longstanding GoHelp corporate citizenship initiative, the academy made its official debut in Sub-Saharan Africa with a launch event in Johannesburg, bringing together humanitarian organizations for training covering customs, dangerous goods handling, packaging and safety.
Christopher Selig, vice president sustainability communications and programs at DHL Group, said the program responds to a shifting humanitarian landscape: “Humanitarian needs are becoming more complex and more frequent, driven by a combination of climate-related events, protracted crises and evolving risks environments. 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 is designed to help humanitarian organizations strengthen operational readiness, reduce delays and improve aid delivery efficiency before emergencies occurs – with a particular focus on local and regional responders. Training is delivered by experienced DHL logisticians and provided free of charge.
The academy is the third pillar of GoHelp, which has operated for more than 20 years. The program sits alongside DHL Disaster Response Teams, which deploys trained experts in the immediate aftermath of disasters, and the Get Airports Ready for Disaster initiative, which targets airport preparedness in high-risk regions.
DAHL has already been piloted globally, with more than 650 participants from over 80 NGOs trained across multiple sessions. Of those, 96% rated the training as valuable.
The 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa rollout will include training sessions across South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria. George Wood, director customer operations Sub-Saharan Africa at DHL Express and a GoHelp volunteer, said local organizations were well placed to benefit: “We consistently see how local humanitarian organizations 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 program offers a flexible learning model comprising in-person workshops, virtual sessions, warehouse assessments and e-learning modules.
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