Islamic Relief’s commitments at the World Humanitarian Summit

At the World Humanitarian Summit on May 23-24 we have a team of delegates speaking out about the issues that matter to the people we work with across the world.

Using the summit’s five “core responsibilities”, we’ve set out what we want to see change and why.

These are the commitments we are making to improve humanitarian work and create a #BetterWorld:

Core responsibility one: Political leadership to prevent and end conflicts

  1. Islamic Relief commits to strengthening cross organisational frameworks on conflict and risk analysis, and will continue to invest in staff capacity for conflict sensitivity, ensuring a minimum of 15% of any conflict transformation programming goes towards supporting inclusive resilience to conflict, including the participation of women.

Core responsibility two: Uphold the norms that safeguard humanity

  1. We are calling on States to do more to protect humanitarian corridors and ensure the safety of local and international staff, and Islamic Relief commits to support this by engaging constructively in intergovernmental processes to enhance the implementation and robust monitoring of International Humanitarian Law, in conformity with Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015.
  2. Islamic Relief commits to continue to actively promote humanitarian principles in our programmes; building a common humanitarian discourse between religious and secular values and practice.
  3. Over the next five years, Islamic Relief will roll out training on International Humanitarian Law with supporting Islamic theological teachings to our staff. We will also seek to roll out such capacity building to local civil society partners within 10 countries where we have committed to build civil society capacity for disaster preparedness and resilience.

Core responsibility three: Leave no one behind

  1. Islamic Relief is a ‘Call to Action’ partner – in the next five years we are committed to transforming the way gender based violence is addressed in all our humanitarian programmes. Our goal is to develop faith literacy to promote women’s and girl’s participation, leadership and empowerment in humanitarian settings.
  2. Islamic Relief commits to strengthening inclusive approaches to programming by improving organisational capacity to meet the needs of all women, men, girls and boys of different ages and abilities through the introduction of mandatory training in the induction of all new programme staff.
  3. In line with our commitments under the Inclusion Charter, Islamic Relief commits to collect and to utilise data (fully disaggregated by sex, age and disability) for different population groups where possible in all humanitarian responses over the next five years.
  4. In the next five years, Islamic Relief will continue to ensure the drive to meet minimum standards in relation to child protection/safeguarding, gender, age and disability inclusion in all programming with particular focus on humanitarian action.

Core responsibility four: Change people’s lives – from delivering aid to ending need

  1. Islamic Relief commits to improving our inclusion of faith leaders and institutions within disaster risk reduction and response planning and delivery. Islamic Relief will actively engage faith leaders and institutions in all its humanitarian response operations.
  2. Islamic relief is committed to the development of a best practice guide for inclusion of faith and faith representatives in psycho-social provision when serving communities of a particular faith by 2017.
  3. Islamic Relief remains committed to complementing the efforts of national disaster coordination bodies in countries where IR has operations, taking part in ongoing joint preparedness planning to strengthen resilience from community to national level.
  4. Islamic Relief is committed to utilising approaches that integrate faith institutions, values and expertise in climate change adaptation and food security at community level, influencing disaster risk reduction (DRR) planning of relevant national governments in at least three of the countries where we work that are worst affected by climate change.
  5. Islamic Relief is committed to promoting and disseminating the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change in at least 10 Muslim-majority countries by 2021.
  6. In addition to its work on the Islamic responsibility to tackling climate change, Islamic Relief will support at least four additional joint declarations in support of gender justice and inclusivity, tackling poverty and inequality, and promoting sustainable economic growth by 2021.
  7. Islamic Relief commits to ensuring it is accountable to communities and people affected by crisis. In this regard we are committed to the ‘Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability’. We will identify best practice and learning, and ensure continuous improvement. Islamic Relief staff and local partners’ capabilities will be built accordingly.
  8. Islamic Relief shares the view that changes are required within the humanitarian system, and our own organisation, so that southern-based national actors can play an increased and more prominent role in humanitarian response. We have therefore endorsed and committed to the ‘Charter for Change’ which commits us to review and adapt our way of working to ensure that we increase direct funding to local partner NGOs, increase transparency, and ensure that we support – not undermine – local capacity through our interventions.

Core responsibility five: Invest in humanity

  1. Islamic Relief commits to encouraging the use of Islamic social finance for humanitarian funding, particularly through sensitising Muslims and governments of Muslim-majority countries to its application for this purpose, but also through expanding its own Islamic endowment (waqf) and Zakat programmes.
  2. Islamic Relief commits to continue building our internal capacity to carry out cash-based programming. As part of this commitment, by 2018, we expect to: ensure that all of our cash-based programming will be in line with sectoral good practice, and increase the proportion of cash-based interventions within our humanitarian programming by 10%.
  3. Islamic Relief commits to support the UN in its intention, stated in the Secretary General’s Report, to ensure that counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency measures do not inhibit humanitarian action or prevent funding for humanitarian operations. We will also support calls to provide for necessary exemptions to allow humanitarian organisations to engage in dialogue and coordinate with all parties to armed conflict in order to reach those in need and alleviate suffering.
  4. Islamic Relief will continue its efforts to work with the banking sector, financial institutions, regulators and other key stakeholders to ensure full cross-stakeholder engagement on the myriad of issues related to counter-terrorism financing that impede the delivery of aid.
  5. Islamic Relief commits to engage, wherever possible, with efforts to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) to better understand how to adhere to current legislation and due diligence requirements – including understanding application for special exemptions where these exist.

For Islamic Relief media interviews and enquires at the World Humanitarian Summit contact Mohammad Shakir on +447747022590 or [email protected]

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.