International general assembly
To meet the changing needs of the Islamic Relief family and the challenging environment in which we operate, the International General Assembly (IGA) has been in operation since 2020, as the highest body of the Islamic Relief Worldwide governance structure. The IGA is made up of representatives elected by and from Islamic Relief member offices. Ultimately, our aim is to have up to a third of the IGA consisting of independent members from outside the Islamic Relief family, helping to bring additional specialist skills and experience, as well as increased diversity and accountability.Â
The main responsibilities of the IGA are to:
Elect members of the IGA to Islamic Relief Worldwideâs Board of Trustees.
Approve any changes to the Islamic Relief Worldwide governing documents, membership policies, the mission and strategy, as well as being the final arbitrator on issues of membership.
Appoint the Chair and members of a new Membership Accreditation Committee (MAC).
Appoint the Chair of the Governance Committee, which is responsible for proposing best practices across the Islamic Relief family. It also reports on adherence to agreed standards, policies, and procedures across all member offices.Â
Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of TrusteesÂ
The Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Trustees is elected, each trustee for a term of four years, by the IGA. The Board is diverse and by the end of 2021 was made up of seven trustees from seven countries across five continents. Each trustee is a volunteer bringing differing skills, knowledge and experience which together will help the organisation develop and respond to key challenges.
The main responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are to:Â
Oversee the governance of Islamic Relief Worldwide in accordance with our statutory obligations, making sure we satisfy our regulatory requirements.
Act always in a manner most likely to support the charity in meeting our aims and objectives.
Oversee the development of the organisational strategy and the setting of priorities and objectives.
Approve the executive management structure of the organisation together with delegated authorities.
Evaluate performance and progress.
Approve relevant new policies and procedures.
Appoint the CEO, evaluate the performance of the executive management team and make appointments to, and dismissals from, this team.
Approve the remuneration policy of the organisation and set the remuneration for senior management.
The responsibilities of trustees can be made more difficult by the scale and complexity of the organisation. To help them fulfil their duties to the best of their abilities each new trustee benefits from a mentor and comprehensive induction. They receive a full overview of our strategic and operational functions, as well as a welcome pack, which includes a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the financial statements, Board minutes, the Charity Commission guidance âThe Essential Trusteeâ and recent publications. We actively encourage trustees to identify any training they may need, and our CEO keeps them up to date with training opportunities and changes in regulatory standards. We continually evaluate the Boardâs effectiveness.
The Board of Trustees receives regular performance reports, annual financial reports, plans and budgets. The Board is committed to continuous improvement and will soon put in place a periodic third-party review and assessment of its effectiveness and its way of working.Â
In 2021, the Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD) rolled out two training sessions for new and existing Trustees of Islamic Relief Worldwide, and members of the Islamic Relief family:Â
Trustee Induction Programme: targeted at both new and existing trustees to inform them of the key areas they need to know about to carry out their duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
Governance Training Programme: targeted at Board members and executives, drawing on their experience to strengthen their understanding and application of governance principles in line with best practice.Â
Other bodies and committees in our governance structure
Islamic Relief Family CouncilÂ
Alongside the IGA, the organisationâs foremost global governance body, we also have a global executive branch called the Islamic Relief Family Council. This is a forum that brings together the chief executives of Islamic Relief Worldwide and all Islamic Relief member entities to enhance communication, strengthen relationships and provide strategic insight to help improve processes within Islamic Relief Worldwide itself and the wider federation of members.
The Membership Accreditation CommitteeÂ
The Membership Accreditation Committee (MAC) oversees the operations of the Board of Trustees and strengthens accountability within the IGA. The MAC is responsible for making recommendations on the suitability of members (both entities and individuals) to the IGA. These recommendations can potentially include the initial nomination, membership levels, renewals and ending membership. The MAC ensuresâŊadherence to the rules governing membership of the IGA and the Board of Trustees.Â
Governance CommitteeÂ
The IGA has created a new, dedicated Governance Committee, which helps to identify best practice for all Islamic Relief entities and ensure compliance with agreed standards, policies and systems. Â
Audit and Finance CommitteeÂ
The main purpose of the Audit and Finance Committee is toâŊprovide oversight of the financial reporting process, the audit process (internal and external), our system of internal controls, risk management and compliance with laws and regulations.Â
Key personnel
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is accountable to the Board of Trustees and, along with other senior staff, is responsible for our day-to-day management. The CEO chairs the executive management team, which is made up of directors. Divisional directors make sure that the policies and strategies agreed by the Board of Trustees are implemented, and they also support the work of other staff and volunteers. A full list of trustees and key personnel is given in the corporate directory.
Remuneration policy
We strive to attract and retain talented individuals based on their passion, commitment, values, knowledge, skills and experience. Whilst the financial dimension is not the foremost basis for engagement, we are keen to pay our team appropriate salaries. As such, our remuneration principle is to be market relevant, not market driven â so we position ourselves in the median quartile of benchmarking exercises. Our remuneration model is designed to be cost-effective and sustainable, and in line with our determination to be âleanâ, to maximise the amount we spend on our programme work. In 2021 we conducted a salary benchmarking exercise to make sure our salaries remain competitive within the sector. Â
We also recognise that attracting and retaining the best talent requires sufficient flexibility to allow for a case-by-case consideration for particularly exceptional talents, hard-to-fill roles and top performers. By using the steps within a set grade range, we can apply this flexibility while maintaining the integrity of the wider grading system. We also encourage and reward opportunities for acting up and secondments within the charity to allow colleagues to learn and develop valuable skills and experience. Â
Governing documents
Islamic Relief Worldwide refers to the charity incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Islamic Relief Worldwideâs governing document, known as Memorandum and Articles, was originally dated 14 March 1989 and amended on 9 August 2010 and the Objects amended on 16 March 2020 to reflect the education, advocacy and broader work of Islamic Relief Worldwide rather than the original âalleviation of poverty.â Islamic Relief Worldwide is registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales and with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.Â
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Other pertinent documents that are now in place with the implementation of the new governance structure and the establishment of the IGA are:
Licence Agreement: the document that confirms that Islamic Relief members can use the Islamic Relief name and logo in their respective geographical areas.
Members Agreement: a contractual agreement between Islamic Relief members and Islamic Relief Worldwide that cements and defines the terms of our mutually beneficial relationship.Â
TIC international LTDÂ
TIC International is a trading subsidiary of Islamic Relief Worldwide. It supports our fundraising activities by recycling clothes and running charity shops across the UK. The registered address of TIC International Ltd is 19 Rea Street South, Birmingham B5 6LB.
International WAQF fund
This is a subsidiary of Islamic Relief Worldwide and also a registered charity that undertakes waqf (Islamic endowment) activities. The registered address of International Waqf Fund is 22 Sampson Road North, Birmingham B11 1BL. Islamic Relief Worldwide exercises control over International Waqf Fund, having the right to appoint and remove its trustees.
Islamic Relief Mauritius
Islamic Relief Mauritius is incorporated as a branch of Islamic Relief Worldwide with local directors appointed to oversee operations. The entityâs transactions and balances are included within the accounts of Islamic Relief Worldwide.