DHL Group has launched a humanitarian logistics academy to help enable humanitarian organisations to manage logistics more independently and efficiently.
The DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL) offers a global capacity-building programme that converts DHL’s logistics expertise into practical, pro bono training for non-profit organisations, with a particular focus on local and regional responders.
The programme is designed to help humanitarian organisations strengthen operational readiness, reduce delays and improve the efficiency of aid delivery before emergencies occur.
Delivered as part of DHL Group’s broader corporate citizenship initiative, GoHelp, the programme is being introduced in Sub-Saharan Africa with a launch event in Johannesburg, bringing together humanitarian organisations for an in-person session focused on core logistics disciplines, including customs, dangerous goods handling, packaging and safety.
DAHL offers a flexible learning model that includes in-person workshops, virtual sessions, warehouse assessments, and e-learning modules.
All training is delivered by experienced DHL logisticians and provided free of charge, ensuring accessibility for humanitarian organisations regardless of size or resources.
“Humanitarian needs are becoming more complex and more frequent, driven by a combination of climate-related events, protracted crises and evolving risk environments,” said Christoph Selig, vice president sustainability communications and programmes at DHL Group.
“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.”
Long-running aid work
DAHL is the third pillar of DHL Group’s GoHelp programme, which has supported disaster response and preparedness efforts worldwide for more than 20 years.
These include Disaster Response Teams, which deploy trained DHL experts to support logistics operations in the immediate aftermath of disasters, and the Get Airports Ready for Disaster initiative, which strengthens airport preparedness in high-risk regions.
The program has already been piloted globally, with more than 650 participants from over 80 NGOs trained across multiple sessions.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rollout of DAHL will include a series of training sessions across multiple countries in 2026, including South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, and Nigeria.
“Sub-Saharan Africa presents both significant logistical challenges and some of the most resourceful and adaptive response environments,” said George Wood, director customer operations Sub-Saharan Africa at DHL Express and active DHL GoHelp volunteer.
“We consistently see how local humanitarian organisations innovate and respond under pressure, often with limited resources. By further equipping these organisations with practical, hands-on logistics knowledge, we can help strengthen preparedness and improve the efficiency of response operations on the ground.”
