The breakdown of the world’s weather systems is the biggest threat facing humanity today.
The effects of global warming are being felt the world over, but this is particularly true in countries and communities in which Islamic Relief helps people emerge from poverty and suffering. Unless emissions stop, we all face a catastrophe of food insecurity and social breakdown which will lead to the deaths of billions of people.
Islamic Relief supports all efforts that will prevent this from happening.
Since at least 2007, Islamic Relief has been contributing to efforts to address the worst impacts of climate change and to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In 2015, we brought together international scholars to construct the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change, while the Climate Change Policy of the same year, revised in 2018, outlined our positions on these issues.
As global temperatures rise, it is essential that people and systems adapt and are prepared for the changes we know will be taking place. In response to the climate crisis we campaign and advocate for climate change adaptation.
The new Islamic Relief Climate Policy responds to the rapidly changing landscape, to present positions on the developing challenges.
With a focus on sustainable development, Islamic Relief’s programmes are designed to help protect the environment, while providing vulnerable people better access to essential services, and the opportunity to improve their livelihoods and lift themselves out of poverty, permanently.
Across the globe we are raising awareness of climate change and the adaptation measures that can be taken to build resilience among the most vulnerable communities.
We develop new principles to capture our locally-led approach to adaptation, ensuring that local knowledge, ideas and experience are at the heart of how we support communities worst affected by climate change.
We have implemented climate-smart solutions for farmers in drought-affected parts of Ethiopia; helped people in Pakistan to better prepare for the changing climate; and assisted families in Kenya to find more climate-resilient ways to earn a living in the face of increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, to name a few.
We aim to adopt the below when designing our programmes:
The impact of climate change has uprooted more than 260 million people from their homes. Only a small proportion of climate finance is invested in climate adaptation. Through our climate change adaptation advocacy and programmes, we are helping to pave the way in changing that, and in doing so, saving and improving the lives of vulnerable families across the globe.
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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.