In 2025, Islamic Relief Iraq, supported by the Islamic Relief Family, reached more than 68,000 people through a range of interventions and projects that helped ease the pressure caused by multiple, overlapping humanitarian crises.
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This policy is designed to inform, guide and direct staff and representatives of Islamic Relief’s safeguarding policy which has been designed to create a safe, protective and a conducive environment for a culture of safeguarding across all levels of the organisation. It is mandatory for all those representing Islamic Relief locally, nationally and globally to understand, implement and adhere to all the guidelines outlined in this document and other related policies which form part of the safeguarding framework such Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding.
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When Islamic Relief published our Takaaya report in November 2025, we warned that Sudan's volunteer-run community kitchens - a safety net for millions - were on the verge of collapse. Six months on, that warning has become reality. Our new research, conducted across seven locations including Khartoum, Omdurman, Port Sudan, North Darfur, Sennar, and Gedaref, found that 354 of 844 community kitchens have now closed. This report offers a number of recommendations that reflect what we have learned in the six months since our first report.
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The evidence is abundant - local faith communities make a significant contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This resource combines evidence with practice, and insight from a range of INGOs including Islamic Relief’s, and articulates the unique contributions of local faith actors in the development and humanitarian sectors. It proposes a framework for how policy makers, donors and partners can encourage and enable their impactful work.
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Islamic Relief has integrated women and child friendly spaces into its humanitarian and development programming across different countries. These spaces serve as safe environments where women and children can access psychosocial support, learn new skills, and rebuild confidence after crisis. This paper aims to facilitate further understanding on how such spaces can effectively respond to protection, psychosocial, and inclusion needs in both humanitarian and early recovery settings.
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This paper reviews the prospects for Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) to climate breakdown. Alongside a review of the LLA principles, national instruments, institutions, finance, ‘cross-cutting factors’ of equity, inclusion and climate justice, it explores the potential of faith and faith-based actors towards realising just and effective climate action for the world’s most vulnerable populations. It concludes with an examination of the risks and barriers, and ways they may be overcome.
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Islamic Relief is committed to responding to the threats facing our world due to the breakdown of climate systems. Islamic Relief's 2025 Climate Policy sets out the policy positions, summarised below, needed to realise our work towards empowering the most disadvantaged families and communities to overcome poverty and vulnerability.
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This Climate Policy sets out again Islamic Relief’s long-held positions regarding the climate emergency, reiterating core positions set out in previous publications, and setting out the systemic and structural global changes needed to mitigate the climate emergency, and to realise Islamic Relief’s Global Strategy to address the worst consequences.
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Sudan is currently facing one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent history. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 12 million people uprooted from their homes, and has plunged more than half of the population into acute food insecurity. Famine has been declared in multiple regions, including El Fasher in North Darfur, where communities remain under siege, cut off from humanitarian aid and basic necessities.
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Sudan is facing one of the world’s most severe and complex humanitarian crises. Its roots in a conflict that erupted in April 2023, the crisis is now in its third year. This report captures the current situation, Islamic Relief’s role within it and how as the crisis becomes protracted, our response evolves.
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Zia Salik was appointed Interim Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2025, and brings with him over 18 years of third sector experience. He has held several leadership roles within Islamic Relief UK, including National Events Coordinator, National Community Fundraising Manager, Head of Fundraising, and Deputy Director. Zia has led national fundraising strategies, managed large-scale campaigns and events, and contributed significantly to volunteer development, donor engagement and public outreach.
As Interim Director, Zia oversees multiple teams and contributes to strategic planning, operational leadership and organisational growth. He is recognised for his expertise in major donor management, public speaking, media engagement and community fundraising. Zia has been instrumental in building strong community networks and delivering impactful campaigns.
Before joining Islamic Relief, Zia served as Programmes Manager at Humber All Nations Alliance, where he led organisational growth, project delivery and funding proposals.
Zia is a seasoned leader committed to social justice, who brings a collaborative, mission-driven approach to his work, helping to amplify voices and maximise impact in the charity sector.
Nadeem has a wealth of experience from the charity, statutory and private sectors. He is the Managing Director of HAD (a division of IRW) which is a centre of excellence seeking to empower the humanitarian sector and maximise its effectiveness and from October 2025 will serve as our interim CEO.
Before joining Islamic Relief, for nearly a decade at the General Medical Council — a globally recognised professional regulator — Nadeem managed strategic relationships with Chief Medical Officers and senior leaders. Prior to that, he served as the UK Director of Islamic Help, engaging closely with many international non-governmental organisations and playing a key role in fundraising and media activities.
In 2000, Nadeem was admitted as a solicitor. He spent nearly 8 years as a Partner at a law firm specialising in employment, regulatory and charity law. He has published papers, including in the Modern Law Review, and chapters in books.
Nadeem is deeply committed to strengthening civil society organisations and the charity sector, and throughout his career has focused on improving foundations for future generations and building strong networks. Nadeem has particular expertise working in matters of Learning and Development, especially personal and professional development, combining Islamic principles with modern techniques and interventions. He is also especially interested in psychological perspectives and cognitive distortions. He has designed and delivered training to thousands of people for nearly 3 decades.
As well as individual development and growth, Nadeem has spent 20 years working with organisations to manage and lead people to improve outcomes and efficiencies. He is a Consultant Coach, qualified at ILM Level 5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring and ILM Level 7 in Executive and Senior Leadership Coaching. He was Chair of the Independent Advisory Group for the Professional Standards Department of West Midlands Police for 4 years, where he was awarded recognition for his ‘Outstanding Work.’
Saqeb Mueen
Asha joined Islamic Relief in 2025 with the aim of working with colleagues to create an environment where everyone feels valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute meaningfully to our shared mission.
Asha has more than 20 years of experience in HR leadership across a range of industries, holding roles at Thomson Reuters, BMW, Movado Group and others. She is passionate about building strong, resilient teams and fostering positive workplace cultures where individuals are empowered to thrive, contribute and do their best work.
Asha holds a BA in Management, Economics and Law, as well as a BA in Business Studies. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Salaheddin joined Islamic Relief UK in 2006 and over the next 7 years held multiple roles, including Community Fundraiser and Campaigns Manager, before joining Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2013.
Since then, Salaheddin has been instrumental in the launch and growth of new Islamic Relief member offices in Ireland, Spain, Norway and Finland, as well as providing essential support and guidance to existing members, including Italy, where he served as CEO for 3 years.
In 2023, Salaheddin became Deputy Director of Global Family Development and in this role has continued to play a crucial part in steering Islamic Relief’s growth and expansion. He has also led global fundraising and media engagement for major emergencies including the Türkiye-Syria earthquake and Libya floods. Salaheddin became the Interim Director of Global Family Development in 2025.
Salaheddin holds a master’s degree in International Development and is actively involved in several community-led initiatives. He is currently the Vice President of the International Union of Muslim Scouts and Deputy Chair of the UK Muslim Scouts Fellowship as well as Chair of the South Birmingham Muslim Community Association.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.
