Making an impact: How GoHelp leverages our people and our partnerships

Mayyada Ansari and Kim Melville are passionate advocates for humanitarian logistics. With a combined 41+ years at DHL, both leaders are committed to driving change by leveraging our vast global network and resources.

Under Mayyada’s guidance, our GoHelp program has expanded into Europe and increased its impact by forming strategic partnerships with UN agencies and local entities to ensure a coordinated disaster response.

Kim leverages his three decades at DHL in airport operations and beyond to support GoHelp’s humanitarian missions, focusing on disaster readiness through the Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) program and disaster response through our Disaster Response Teams (DRTs).

Kim describes the decision to launch GoHelp Europe as a response to the increasing number of natural disasters on the continent, such as flooding and wildfires. “Our goal is to relieve the pressure on emergency management authorities,” he says.

Mayyada emphasizes the importance of building a network of regional and country leads for GoHelp to streamline coordination from local to regional levels. She adds that expanding beyond airport operations to include warehousing and logistics will allow DHL to serve its partners in Europe and other GoHelp regions better.

Both leaders also recognize the strategic importance of partnerships in expanding GoHelp’s impact. For nearly two decades, DHL has collaborated with organizations like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the World Food Programme (WFP) to bolster disaster preparedness and response. Until recently, GoHelp had regional teams in Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Europe becomes the program’s fifth team.

“We see the success and impact we can achieve together,” says Mayyada. In Europe, GoHelp is now seeking to engage with the European Commission, UN agencies, and other regional bodies to extend this network further. “Bringing together actors from public, private, and government sectors is crucial,” she adds, stressing that these public-private partnerships are key to leveraging DHL's logistics capabilities for humanitarian efforts.

Mayyada says that there is one important aspect of these partnerships that is often underestimated: GoHelp adds value for both our business and our employees. “Our colleagues are very proud of our social impact programs,” she says. “People want to work for responsible organizations. Customers want to work with companies that are sustainable and socially responsible. And investors want to invest in an organization that acts responsibly and creates a positive impact for a better future.”

GoHelp would not be the success it is today without partners like the United Nations.

“I can’t emphasize enough how crucial partnerships with the public sector and humanitarian organizations are for GoHelp,” says Mayyada. “As DHL, we bring all our expertise in logistics and with the guidance from our partners.”

The program’s expansion into Europe marks a significant step in addressing climate adaptation challenges in the region, reflecting our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship. In addition to global partners like the UN, we partner with local organizations in the respective regions. In Europe, we’re in contact with the European Commission, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Initiative for Southeast Europe, the World Health Organization, and the International Organization for Migration.

“There is a huge need for bringing actors from the public, private, and government sectors together, and we’ve seen the success and impact we can achieve together,” says Mayyada.

As they look to the future, both Kim and Mayyada are optimistic about the potential of GoHelp to make an even greater impact. They see an opportunity for DHL to be at the forefront of creating resilient communities worldwide.

“We see disasters occurring more frequently worldwide, and preparation is key,” says Kim. “I hope that more and more nations will realize the value of programs like GARD and take us up on our offer.”