Saving our home: Time for urgent action on World Environment Day

On World Environment Day 2022, our head of global advocacy, Shahin Ashraf, explains why we’re throwing our weight behind the #OnlyOneEarth campaign.
Calling for global, unified and transformative action
As climate change continues to devastate communities around the world, the responsibility to build a greener and more sustainable planet is growing increasingly urgent. To mitigate the level of harm and build resilience in vulnerable communities, it is critical that we take bold and swift action which centres the experiences of the communities at the forefront of climate change.
Above all, such a commitment demands collective action: the compassion and unity shown by the international community in the recent Ukraine crisis, for instance, illustrates the possibilities that arise when we work together. This sort of concerted, rapid, and decisive action can – and must – be extended to the climate crisis.
Indeed, our failure to do so carries severe consequences, with the most marginalised groups bearing the brunt.
“Left at the mercy of the sea”: Sea intrusion displaces people in Pakistan
In Pakistan, which ranks among countries most affected by climate change according to a 2020 report, the increase of earthquakes, floods, and droughts have meant that local communities struggle to survive. Ateef, a 65-year-old security guard in Dasi, is just one of over 860,000 estimated climate migrants displaced from their native land.
Having worked for 30 years as a fishermen and farmer in his native town of Babloo, Ateef was forced to migrate, along with his community, after he lost his land and animals due to sea intrusion and lack of fresh water. In Dasi, where they live now, Ateef explains that they lack access to fresh water, educational institutions, and medical infrastructure – with the latter leading to major health issues like asthma, diarrhoea, and pregnancy complications for women.
“We are living a very miserable life,” Ateef tells us, “Our children don’t have a school or madrassah (religious school) to attend. Nor do we have any electricity or sanitation facilities. We all are left at the mercy of the sea.”
To provide relief and develop resilience-building strategies, Islamic Relief works with local communities in Pakistan in delivering innovative and sustainable projects. Among others, our projects involve introducing rainwater-harvesting structures and providing training on climate-adaptive farming. Such interventions help farmers to ensure their crops remain safe from droughts. Islamic Relief also support local communities in rebuilding housing, small businesses and sanitation facilities.
Adapting to disrupted farming practices in Indonesia
Farmers in Indonesia similarly face loss of livelihood as climate change affects farming practices. Although farmers have traditionally relied on indigenous practices to predict rainfall, such as Warige and tumbuk, these practices now struggle to keep pace with changing weather patterns.
“In the past, the predictions of our older people were always accurate, yet nowadays, the prediction is sometimes incorrect as climate change is effecting the rain” explains Ahmad, a leader of the local farmers’ group. This means that salt farmers, who need to mature the salt during the dry season, are being caught out by unpredictable rain while rice farmers are seeing a drastic drop in productivity due to extended periods of drought and a shortened rainy season.
Through climate change field school, Islamic Relief is taking the steps to train local populations in community-based adaptation methods. These include measuring daily rainfall and adjusting crop plantations based on quarterly climate predictions which integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific methods and lead to improved reliability and increased productivity.
Humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia: Climate change meets conflict
On its fourth consecutive year of failed rains, Ethiopia is facing the worst drought in the Horn of Africa since 1981. More than 7 million people are already suffering from malnutrition and 39% of the population does not have access to a safe water supply.
As the drought exacerbates the effects of internal conflict, Ethiopians are experiencing acute insecurity and struggling to sustain daily life.
With the help of Islamic Relief, Ayana, a 29-year-old mother of 2, has been able to form a women’s village saving and credit association with her local community and use the money saved to buy cattle for members of the group. Due to the drought and shortage of cattle fodder, however, Ayana and her group were forced to sell the livestock after 1 out of the 5 cattle died.
Despite this, Ayana says she remains hopeful for the future, “above all, we have learnt the advantages of organizing ourselves in village saving associations. Our plan now is to grow together by expanding and diversifying our business.”
Moving forward, it is crucial that we prioritise the stories and insights of communities disproportionately affected by climate change, including those in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Ethiopia. We only have one Earth, and it belongs to us all.
Islamic Relief is committed to working with local communities to provide relief, build resilience and produce adaptive strategies. Donate today to support our vital work.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.

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.