In 2024, Islamic Relief Afghanistan reached approximately 1 million vulnerable people across 20 provinces through a wide range of programmes. The vital humanitarian and development assistance included responding to environmental disasters and supporting the huge influx of 900,000 Afghan returnees from Pakistan. Learn more about our programmes and the impact of your support in this report.
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Islamic Relief Worldwide has an Orphan Sponsorship Programme (OSP) in 27 countries with approximately 85,000 orphans being supported. This summary provides an overview of the more detailed study, whose purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of impact the OSP on orphan children, their guardian caregivers and households, and communities where they live. This is the first OSP impact study conducted globally.
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Islamic Relief Worldwide has an Orphan Sponsorship Programme (OSP) in 27 countries with approximately 85,000 orphans being supported. The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of impact the OSP on orphan children, their guardian caregivers and households, and communities where they live. This is the first OSP impact study conducted globally. This study provides a comparative analysis of wellbeing outcomes of different models of OSP implementation across time frames of being in sponsorship from more recent enrolment to rightsholders “graduating” from the programme.
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This paper documents key lessons from Islamic Relief's experiences in establishing Community Hope Action Teams (CHATs). The primary goal is to influence community attitudes and behaviours by creating a safe space for discussion amongst community members on issues related to child protection and gender equality, using religious principles to promote positive social change. Drawing on examples from 4 Islamic Relief country contexts - Ethiopia, South Sudan, Mali and Malawi - this paper seeks to establish a foundational understanding of how CHATs have been implemented and adapted to diverse cultural and social settings.
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For almost 500 days, atrocities have been carried out against Palestinians in Gaza - starvation and the denial of humanitarian aid have been used as weapons of war, and every part of the enclave’s infrastructure and social fabric has been affected. The scale of loss and destruction is indescribable. The temporary ceasefire offers some hope, but Gaza has been razed to the ground and its people continue to suffer greatly. Our teams and local partners stand ready to begin the long and painstaking process of supporting the Palestinian people to rebuild their lives and overcome the destruction, trauma and loss that they face. Marking 500 days since the unprecedented escalation began, this report details the scale of the humanitarian crisis and how Islamic Relief will help support Palestinians rebuild their lives.
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This is a summary of an 88 page document that provides a full set of guidelines mapping out Islamic Relief Worldwide’s approach to Graduation programmes. The full guidelines are available here. We conducted an extensive global learning study in 2023, with the support of an external consultant Anton Simanowitz, to examine our Graduation approach and learn lessons for the future. As a result our Graduation programme now has a new set of guidelines for its implementation and a new name: The Falah Graduation Model - Pathways to Prosperity. Falah is an Arabic word that expresses profound multi-dimensional well-being that goes beyond material advancement. This document provides an accessible summary of both our approach and our guidelines, and is a blueprint for achieving individual and community well-being.
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The development of these Guidelines has been the culmination of a learning study carried out globally within Islamic Relief with the support of an external consultant Anton Simanowitz. Islamic Relief’s goal in writing these Guidelines is to establish a transparent and adaptable framework for using the Graduation approach for consistent long-term development programming. Reflecting the particular, faith-based approach of Islamic Relief’s Graduation programming a new name has been conceived – the Falah Graduation Model - Pathways to Prosperity. Acknowledging the diversity of contexts, the goal is not to enforce a uniform approach, but rather to provide a set of principles to guide adaptation and ensure minimum standards for effective design and execution. Ultimately, these guidelines outline the steps to implement projects that consistently benefit the wellbeing of Islamic Relief rightsholders. They enable informed decisions regarding the suitability of implementing such projects by Islamic Relief, determining when and where they should or…
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Afghanistan is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The country's women and girls bear the brunt of the negative impacts of climate change, which intersect with other challenges they face due to gender dynamics and mobility. This paper produced collaboratively by Samuel Hall, Islamic Relief, OCHA, and the University of Shanghai’s Research Center for Health and Wellbeing, highlights the crucial role of women in climate adaptation, especially in fragile contexts like Afghanistan.
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Reflecting the increasing pace of the climate emergency and its expansion further into the lives of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, Adapting for the Future provides a comprehensive report on Islamic Relief’s recent and extensive work in climate adaptation and community resilience building which has reached 23 countries and a combined budget of nearly £150 million.
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The number of orphaned children in Gaza has surged in a year of unprecedented bombardment and trauma since early October 2023. Islamic Relief has responded by expanding our Orphan Sponsorship Programme by 73%. This report details some of the challenges Gaza's orphaned children are facing and the support we're providing.
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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.
Adnan Hafiz
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.
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.