IOM and DHL launch digital training academy for African youth in Ghana

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and DHL Global Forwarding have teamed up to launch the Ubuntu Academy, a digital training programme in Ghana that will equip 10,000 young Africans with logistics and workplace skills over the next few years, the organizations announced. The initiative, supported through DHL’s GoTeach programme, aims to open new opportunities for youth and returning migrants, helping them reintegrate into their communities and build sustainable careers.

“Private sector partnerships are essential to unlocking the potential of young Africans and ensuring migration delivers on its promise of development,” said Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, IOM Chief of Mission for Ghana, Togo, and Benin. “We’re redefining what reintegration means—connecting it to real jobs, skills, and pathways for growth.”

Using artificial intelligence and self-paced e-learning, the Ubuntu Academy offers training in supply chain management and professional development. The platform currently has more than 200 active learners, many of whom say the program strengthened their confidence, time management, and teamwork skills. “It gave me clarity about my future direction,” said one participant.

Egidio Monteiro, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Sub-Saharan Africa, described the launch as “a clear vote of confidence in Ghanaian youth.” He added, “By equipping them with the skills needed for the logistics industry, we’re not only transforming individual lives but helping entire communities and economies move forward. That’s the spirit of Ubuntu.”

The Ubuntu Academy is part of a broader DHL–IOM partnership under the GoHelp programme, which builds capacity in humanitarian logistics worldwide. Similar training models have already been tested in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and the Philippines, where graduates have secured supply chain jobs—including positions at DHL.

Since 2022, IOM has supported the voluntary return of more than 170,000 migrants across West and Central Africa, including 6,000 in Ghana. The academy’s launch marks a major step toward connecting reintegration with meaningful employment—and IOM and DHL plan to scale the model across other parts of Africa in the near future.