Logistics giant DHL Group has launched the DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL), a global training initiative designed to equip humanitarian organizations and local responders with practical logistics knowledge and skills, allowing them to better prepare for and respond to crises.
The program will kick off in Sub-Saharan Africa with a launch event in Johannesburg, DHL said in a statement Wednesday. The event will bring together humanitarian organizations for an in-person session focused on core logistics disciplines, including customs, dangerous goods handling, packaging, and safety.
DAHL converts DHL’s logistics expertise into practical, pro bono training for nonprofit organizations, with a focus on local and regional responders. The program is designed to help humanitarian organizations strengthen operational readiness, reduce delays, and improve the efficiency of aid delivery before emergencies occur, the company said in the statement.
“Humanitarian needs are becoming more complex and more frequent, driven by a combination of climate-related events, protracted crises, and evolving risk environments,” Christoph Selig, vice president sustainability communications and programs at DHL Group, said in the statement. “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 is the third pillar of DHL Group’s GoHelp program, which has supported disaster response and preparedness efforts worldwide for more than 20 years. Those 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.
DAHL builds on that foundation by helping humanitarian organizations manage logistics more independently and efficiently. The program has already been piloted around the world, with more than 650 participants from over 80 NGOs (non-governmental organizations) trained across multiple sessions.
The official launch in Johannesburg marks an important step in scaling the program globally, according to DHL.
“Sub-Saharan Africa presents both significant logistical challenges and some of the most resourceful and adaptive response environments,” according to George Wood, director customer operations Sub-Saharan Africa at DHL Express and DHL GoHelp volunteer. “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’s rollout in Sub-Saharan Africa will include a series of training sessions across multiple countries this year, including South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, and Nigeria.
