The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and DHL Global Forwarding have launched the Ubuntu Academy, a digital training program in Ghana aimed at equipping 10,000 young Africans with logistics and workplace skills over the coming years. The initiative targets both young people entering the workforce and returned migrants seeking to reintegrate into their communities, offering a scalable model for private sector engagement to expand employment opportunities.
IOM Chief of Mission Fatou Diallo Ndiaye emphasized the importance of linking reintegration to real labor market opportunities, highlighting how the program transforms the concept of return into a pathway for economic empowerment and sustainable growth. By connecting corporate expertise with development objectives, the academy addresses one of Africa’s key challenges: providing meaningful employment opportunities for a growing youth population.
The Ubuntu Academy leverages DHL’s GoTeach initiative and artificial intelligence to deliver self-paced e-learning courses in supply chain management and professional skills. This approach combines practical corporate knowledge with international development goals, aiming to strengthen the employability of participants and prepare them for careers both within DHL and across the wider economy. DHL CEO Egidio Monteiro highlighted how equipping young people with these skills benefits not only individuals but also their families and communities, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu.
Early participants have reported significant benefits, including improvements in time management, decision-making, collaboration, and clarity in career direction. The academy already has over 200 active users on its digital platform, reflecting strong initial engagement. The program builds on the success of similar initiatives in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and the Philippines, where the Tulaya Academy model has successfully placed graduates in supply chain roles, including positions within DHL.
The Ubuntu Academy is part of DHL’s broader GoHelp Program partnership with IOM, linking humanitarian logistics and workforce development. Since 2022, IOM has facilitated the voluntary return of more than 170,000 migrants across West and Central Africa, including over 6,000 in Ghana, which serves as the program’s launch market with plans for continental expansion. The initiative is funded under the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) by the European Union and implemented by IOM, underscoring the collaborative effort to support youth employment and migrant reintegration.
