Changing lives for good

Islamic Aid seeks to make immediate and lasting improvements to the lives of people affected by poverty, war and disaster. Working in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe, we address the needs of all those in need, regardless of their race, religion, gender, nationality or political opinion.

 

Our work on strategic programmes to eliminate poverty focus on four key ways:

 

Sustainable development:

 

Nobody wants to live on handouts. So we work to ensure women and men can make a decent living, access fair markets and meet their own and their families’ needs long term. In particular we focus on:

 

Food and water

Education

Healthcare

Livelihoods

Islamic Micro-finance and

Climate change

 

Disaster and emergency response:

 

We recognise that emergency situations continue after the cameras leave, and that rebuilding and safeguarding communities is an ongoing process. We work with vulnerable communities before, during and after emergencies happen to:

 

1) Ensure they have the resources to minimise, survive and recover from emergencies

2) Ensure they can cope with the effects of environmental threats

3) Reduce the risk of violence, forced displacement or armed conflict by working for peace and security in the communities we support

4) Lobby the governments to prevent, resolve and respond to conflicts and emergencies

 

Campaigning and advocacy:

 

We challenge those with power to adopt policies and behaviour that promote justice and end poverty. We do this by lobbying, petitioning, marching, and by being present and vocal at key events. working individually and through networks to create a powerful voice for change and justice. To do this we raise funds and mobilise action from the Muslim community and beyond.

 

Education in the UK and US

 

We work with Muslim and the wider communities in the UK and US to raise awareness and inspire a commitment to end injustice and poverty in the global South. We focus on:

 

1) Increasing the Muslim community’s engagement with our work through giving, taking action and praying, both individually and communally

2) creating and nurturing links between Muslims in the UK and US and communities in the developing countries, based on dignity and equality

3) bringing a greater awareness of global poverty and its causes to young Muslims so that they will be equipped to respond to the call for justice.

 

How we work:

 

All our humanitarian and development work centres around partnerships. Islamic Aid works alongside local organisations overseas. We encourage partners to participate in projects; after all, it’s their project. We work alongside partners to deliver the programme together.

 

We offer financial and practical assistance to improve capacity and skills. We evaluate projects regularly to keep improving. We don’t dictate to our partners, but we promote our quality commitments and support their implementation. That could mean bringing several partners together to share learning and experiences, helping with funding applications, or providing financial management training.

 

Our accountability

 

We work according to internationally agreed standards, principles and core partnership values.

 

Read more about Islamic Aid’s accountability and standards >>