Our strategy

In response to growing humanitarian needs across the globe, Islamic Relief’s ambitious Global Strategy aligns life-saving and life-changing programming with the push for systemic change.

In response to growing humanitarian needs across the globe, Islamic Relief’s ambitious Global Strategy aligns life-saving and life-changing programming with the push for systemic change.

Since Islamic Relief Worldwide was established in 1984, our goal has been to alleviate poverty and suffering for the most disadvantaged families and communities.

For nearly 40 years, we have worked shoulder to shoulder with others also striving for a fairer, safer world for everyone.

Islamic Relief is proud to have contributed to some extraordinary human development successes:

  • More than a billion people have been lifted out of poverty
  • Life expectancy has risen across the planet
  • Diseases that used to kill millions of people are now treatable
  • Access to education has been greatly expanded, particularly for women and girls.

Yet in recent years, humanitarian need has grown, rather than declined.

“The ultimate aim of every good charity is to help create a world in which it is no longer needed,” says Dr Ihab Saad, chair of the board of trustees at Islamic Relief Worldwide.

“However, despite the huge advances made, Islamic Relief has never been needed more.

“The impacts of the climate crisis have become more severe; global governance is faltering as countries increasingly compete for resources and power.

Inequality is rising due to the abuse and monopolisation of resources and the exploitation of the many by the few.”

Decades of progress is under threat.

These interconnected challenges further marginalise the poorest and most vulnerable and entrench the structural inequalities that exacerbate poverty and injustice.

Striving for deep and positive change for all

Islamic Relief’s new 10-year strategy, spanning 2023-2033, is our response to these challenges.

It sets out a path as to how Islamic Relief can fulfil our mission and deliver the most significant impact for those that we serve. Inspired by our Islamic faith and the teachings of the Qur’an, the strategy is guided by the Maqasid Framework. The Arabic word ‘Maqasid’ means goal or purpose, and denotes an Islamic legal doctrine which emphasises the sanctity of every individual’s life and dignity and their rights to security, health, a sustainable environment, food, shelter and clean water.

Following a year of consultation with the Islamic Relief global family, local partners, staff in our programme offices and supporters, we designed the strategy with a single goal: to serve the most disadvantaged families and communities – regardless of their faith, race, class, disability or gender. At its heart lies the principle that to affect systemic change, we must address the root causes of inequality and injustice.

An integrated programme approach

“We will do this through an integrated programme approach,” explains our chief executive Waseem Ahmad. “We will combine our humanitarian assistance, sponsorship of orphaned children, long-term social development programming and advocacy work to comprehensively address the needs of those we are supporting and help build their capacity and resilience to overcome poverty and vulnerability.”

Over the next 10 years, we aim to achieve 3 core outcomes:

  1. We will save lives and reduce vulnerability to humanitarian crises
  2. We will empower communities to tackle poverty and vulnerability
  3. We will advocate for change to the system to eliminate the global and local root causes of inequality.

Our core humanitarian and development programme areas will continue responding to humanitarian crises with life-saving assistance, tackling food security and nutrition, and building sustainable livelihoods, health and education. We will continue to work with our humanitarian partners across the world towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Aligning fundraising and advocacy to drive change

Islamic Relief wants to empower our supporters – so crucial to our ability to serve the most disadvantaged families and communities – to advocate for change. We will direct more of our focus to advocacy and campaigning in wealthier countries, to affect change in poorer countries which are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis and the erosion and abuse of the rules of a fair global economy.

By aligning our fundraising and advocacy activities, we will influence those in power to fix the global economic systems and structures that entrench poverty and inequality.

Strengthening our ability to serve

For Islamic Relief to meet the growing humanitarian needs and achieve our goals, it is vital that we grow our Islamic Relief family, building a presence in new markets and strengthening our relationships with funders and supporters.

To maintain and build trusted partnerships, we will continue the programme of governance reforms that we began in 2020. We will further increase the diversity of the Board and remove the barriers to increased impact and effectiveness, including ensuring support functions are close to our programme teams to allow us to respond even more quickly to humanitarian crises.

Our strategy is ambitious, yet achievable.

It is founded in our strengths, reach and experience. We know that we must learn as we implement and be responsive to evolving needs and external events. We will continue to embed monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning across our programmes. To ensure we identify any necessary changes in our approach or strategic priorities, we will conduct detailed, timely reviews of the strategy.

To rise to the challenges that confront the world we all share, and deliver the changes that the poorest and most vulnerable urgently require, we must be innovative in our programming, bold in our advocacy and fearless in our commitment to those we serve. Our strategy sets out our path. Please join us on it.

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.