South Africa, June 04, 2026: DHL Group has launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), a global capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening logistics capabilities among humanitarian organisations and improving disaster preparedness.
The initiative, launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, forms part of DHL Group’s corporate citizenship programme, GoHelp. The academy is designed to provide practical, accessible and locally relevant logistics training to humanitarian actors, particularly local and regional responders.
The launch event brought together humanitarian organisations for in-person training sessions covering key logistics areas such as customs procedures, dangerous goods handling, packaging and safety. The programme seeks to help organisations improve operational readiness, reduce delays and enhance the efficiency of aid delivery 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 becomes the third pillar of DHL Group’s GoHelp programme, complementing its Disaster Response Teams and the Get Airports Ready for Disaster initiative. The company said the academy builds on more than two decades of experience in disaster preparedness and response.
According to DHL Group, the programme has already been piloted globally, training more than 650 participants from over 80 non-governmental organisations. Feedback from participants showed that 96% rated the training as valuable.
The rollout in Sub-Saharan Africa will include training sessions across South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria during 2026. The programme will offer a mix of in-person workshops, virtual sessions, warehouse assessments and e-learning modules.
George Wood, Director Customer Operations Sub-Saharan Africa at DHL Express and active DHL 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.”
All training under the programme will be delivered free of charge by DHL logistics professionals, enabling humanitarian organisations of varying sizes and resources to access logistics expertise and strengthen emergency response capabilities.
x
