Islamic Relief backs World Earth Day calls for biodiversity action

This World Earth Day, Islamic Relief is backing calls for greater protection for the planets’ species and highlighting how we are responding.

In Islamic Relief’s policy stance on biodiversity, issued today, we are highlighting the need for urgent action to tackle the accelerated rate of species extinction. Many species are already extinct and countless others face the same fate.

Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms: the animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and other intertwined life forms within any ecosystem.

As for the earth, We have spread it out, set firm mountains on it, and made everything grow there in due balance. We have provided sustenance in it for you and for all those creatures for whom you do not provide. (Qur’an 15:19-20)

The dangers of biodiversity loss

Climate change, alongside factors like land degradation and habitat loss, is emerging as a top threat to wildlife around the globe. Scientists are warning of the continuing and imminent loss of species of plants, insects animals and marine life.

It is predicted that animal numbers in Africa will decline by as much as 50% by the end of the century and 90% of precious coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean will bleach or degrade by the year 2050.

There are strong practical arguments against biodiversity loss. Variation, from individual genes to species, gives ecosystems resilience to change. Ecosystems, in turn, hold the planet steady and provide services essential to human welfare: forests and wetlands prevent pollutants entering our water supplies, mangroves offer coastal defence by reducing storm surges, and green spaces in urban areas lower rates of mental illness in the people who live there.

A continued loss of biodiversity will disrupt these services even further. If the global temperature is allowed to rise to 2°C, the risks facing plants, animals and insects roughly doubles.

Marine ecosystems under threat

The ocean provides most of the life-supporting environment on the planet. It hosts a large portion of biodiversity, plays a major role in climate regulation, sustains a vibrant economy and contributes to food security worldwide.

Severe impacts on key marine ecosystems and ecosystem services are projected in response to future global warming and concurrent ocean acidification, deoxygenation, and sea-level rise.

Fishermen off the coast of Gaza.

To protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems and counter the effects of climate change, the most practical and promising actions have been shown to be habitat protection, eliminating overexploitation, reducing pollution, restoring vegetation, relocating and reef restoration.

Ocean-based renewable energy – using offshore wind turbines and harvesting energy from tides, waves, ocean currents, and thermal stratification – in place of fossil fuels will help reduce the rate of warming, acidification, and sea-level rise.

Securing community land rights is an effective, efficient and equitable climate action that governments can take to protect the world’s forests and ecosystems. Deforestation must end, globally, on an absolute basis. Reforestation and improved forest management are opportunities for increasing mitigation ambition. Protecting forests while allowing for indigenous and community-based forest management to provide biodiversity, food security, and carbon sequestration benefits is an urgent priority.

Adaptation in agriculture also delivers substantial mitigation benefits since agroecological and climate–compatible food production systems can protect biodiversity and increase resilience while reducing emissions, food insecurity and ‘rich country’ diseases resulting from poor diet.

Islamic Relief is tackling environmental degradation

Islamic Relief recognises that poverty and environmental degradation need to be tackled together to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people in the long term, and to be true to Islamic teachings. Fortified by God-given duties towards stewardship and responsibilities to protect the environment, and through our programmes and organisational behaviour, Islamic Relief can do much to tackle environmental degradation.

We believe that humankind has the responsibility to maintain the balance and proportion that God has built into the Creation, and that much suffering is being caused by disruption of that balance and proportion. We endorse the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change which states that because of human action “we are in danger of ending life as we know it on our planet”. Islamic Relief believes that a rich biological heritage, a stable climate and clean water are as important to communities as their material needs.

While recognising that Islamic Relief cannot single-handedly change the world’s economic system and modes of production, we can ensure that our own actions and programmes do not place more than a minimum additional burden on the environment.

Progress has been made through Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Climate Change Policy, and the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change. A major programme by our Humanitarian Academy for Development has added much-needed momentum on sustainable consumption and production.

We have also directly shaped global climate change policy through giving the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change the results of our ‘Talanoa Dialogue’ consultations, which were held across 13 countries.

In addition, in our Environmental Policy we commit to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods. We pledge to assess our work to ensure that our activities do not contribute to species extinction and biodiversity loss.

new director

Director of Network and Resource 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

General Counsel

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

Director of Network and Resource 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.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

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.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

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.