African Relief Fund
Charity 1197360
Overview
Summary
African Relief Fund appears to be a Birmingham-based, faith-informed international humanitarian charity combining emergency assistance with longer-term development across African communities. Its stated model links fundraising in the UK—including Zakat, Sadaqah, sponsorship and volunteering—to programmes in health, water, education, food security and livelihoods. The available evidence suggests particular attention to Somalia and Ethiopia, but does not yet show how priorities are chosen, delivery is governed, or whether its broad public impact claims are independently evidenced.
Operational geography
No operational geography is currently available for this organisation.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Relief and resilience are presented as one operating model
The organisation appears to use urgent aid as an entry point while also funding infrastructure, education and income-generating skills intended to reduce recurring vulnerability.
Why it matters
This distinguishes ARF from a purely emergency-focused agency and suggests that partnerships may need to span humanitarian response and longer-term local development.
Show evidence
“ARF says its projects respond to urgent humanitarian needs while investing in long-term community development.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include emergency food, water and shelter alongside schools, water projects and craft training for lower-income women-led households.”
Source:Charity Commission
Water may be a strategic bridge across several programmes
Water infrastructure appears to connect ARF's health, emergency, household hardship and resilience work, rather than functioning as a standalone project area.
Why it matters
This may be a useful lens for understanding ARF's local partnerships: water projects could create shared ground with health providers, schools and livelihood organisations.
Show evidence
“The objects include water wells, earth dams and rainwater harvest systems.”
Source:Charity Commission“ARF presents community water wells in Somalia and Ethiopia and promotes rainwater harvesting to reduce shortages and improve hygiene.”
Source:Organisation
Faith-linked giving appears central to the fundraising relationship
ARF appears to cultivate a donor base for whom Islamic charitable practices are meaningful, while presenting its beneficiaries as the wider public in Africa.
Why it matters
This helps explain its funding channels and may indicate relationships with faith communities that are as important to its operating model as its programme partnerships.
Show evidence
“The website offers Zakat and Sadaqah donation options and includes Islamic scripture and Hadith in fundraising appeals.”
Source:Organisation“The charity states that it helps children and young people and the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether ARF delivers programmes directly, through local partners, or through a mix of both.
- Which countries and communities receive most support beyond references to Somalia and Ethiopia.
- Whether the stated impact figures and campaign totals are independently verified or current.
- How beneficiaries participate in deciding priorities and assessing results.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports and accounts showing income sources, expenditure, countries of operation and delivery partners.
- Programme evaluations or monitoring data showing outcomes, beneficiary reach and safeguarding arrangements.
- Information from local partner organisations and communities about ARF's role in implementation and decision-making.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
activities were mainly education, supporting schools in Somalia and emergency food aid.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN AFRICA:- A. TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY BUILDING AND RENOVATING SCHOOLS, ORGANISING TEACHERS' TRAINING IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND REGIONAL EDUCATION MINISTRIES, SPONSORING POOR AND ORPHANED CHILDREN TO ATTEND SCHOOL WHILST ALSO OCCASIONALLY PROVIDING SCHOOL MEALS FOR LOWER INCOME CHILDREN TO IMPROVE SCHOOL ENROLMENT WITH DONOR PARTNERS; B. THE RELIEF OF FINANCIAL NEED AND SUFFERING AMONG VICTIMS OF NATURAL OR OTHER KINDS OF DISASTER IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING EMERGENCY FOOD, WATER AND SHELTER; HEALTHCARE PROJECTS SUCH AS MOBILE CLINIC TO ENABLE LOCALS TO RECEIVE TREATMENT OF DISEASES; C. THE RELIEF OF SICKNESS AND THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF GOOD HEALTH, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING MIDWIVES TRAINING TO REDUCE THE HIGH RATES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY; PROVISION OF HYGIENE KITS AND INCUBATORS FOR PREMATURE BABIES AND MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS; D. TO RELIEVE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY PROVIDING FOOD, WATER AND NON-FOOD ITEMS AND IMPLEMENTING WATER PROJECTS SUCH DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER WELLS, EARTH DAMS AND RAINWATER HARVEST SYSTEM AND TRAINING LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LED BY WOMEN WITH CRAFT THAT GENERATE INCOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES. NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CIO FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH [SECTION 7 OF THE CHARITIES AND TRUSTEE INVESTMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005] AND [SECTION 2 OF THE CHARITIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008].