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Islamic Relief Worldwide

Islamic Relief Worldwide was established in 1984 by Dr Hany El-Banna and fellow students from the University of Birmingham in the UK in response to the famine in Africa. Launching an appeal, they went door to door and from mosque to mosque asking for money, and this paid for food for people affected by the famine.

In 1985, Islamic Relief’s began its first project – sponsoring a chicken farm in Sudan. That same year, its founders hired a small office in Mosely, in Birmingham, and from there raised £100,000 for the famine response.

Islamic Relief grew at a rapid rate, and over the next five years, started working in Mozambique, Iran, Pakistan, Malawi, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others, responding to emergencies and distributing clothes, food, offering health support and beginning the long-term project that is now our One-to-One Orphan Sponsorship programme.

Today, Islamic Relief is a truly global organisation, working in more than 40 countries providing emergency aid, carrying out long-term development, and campaigning for change.

Our international headquarters are based in Digbeth, in Birmingham, UK, but we have offices in countries including Bangladesh, USA, Germany, Iraq, Lebanon, Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, and Mali.

We are signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, an international standard on working with people affected by emergencies in a non-biased manner, and we have acquired NGO status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council. We have signed a Framework Partnership was signed with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department, and a partnership agreement with UNHCR that reaffirmed both organisations’ principles of giving aid without discrimination.

Extract from HAR2020 - stories of change

certification valid until May 2026

Islamic Relief Worldwide is certified against the CHS for its humanitarian and development mandates since 2017.

A new certification cycle has started in 2023 with the renewal audit.


During an audit in 2019, Indonesia
During an audit in 2019, Indonesia
During an audit in 2019, Indonesia

Islamic Relief Worldwide audit reports

Renewal Audit report 2023

Islamic Relief Worldwide Renewal Audit report Summary Report 2023-05-11

Recertification audit report 2021

Islamic Relief Worldwide Recertification Audit Summary Report 2021-11-01

Maintenance audit report 2020

Islamic Relief Worldwide Maintenance Audit Summary Report 2020-07-08

Mid-term audit report 2019

Islamic Relief Worldwide Mid Term Audit Summary Report 2019-06-26

Maintenance audit report 2018

Islamic Relief Worldwide Maintenance Audit Summary Report 2018-06-05

Initial audit report 2017

Islamic Relief Worldwide Initial Audit Summary Report 2021-03-25

Certified since

Type of organisation