Poverty is not simply the absence of money. It is the absence of opportunity, of skills, and of the means to build a stable and dignified life. Across South Africa and the broader region, millions of people struggle to find sustainable work, support their families, and break the cycle of generational poverty.
Islamic Relief South Africa’s Sustainable Livelihoods programme works to change this. We provide communities with the tools, training, financial support, and ongoing mentorship needed to create lasting economic independence. Our approach does not offer short-term handouts. It builds long-term capability, so that individuals and families can provide for themselves and contribute to their communities for years to come.
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
Quran, 2:261
Our Impact
Islamic Relief has been supporting sustainable livelihoods across the globe for more than 40 years. The figures below reflect the scale of our collective impact, drawn from Islamic Relief Worldwide programme data.
40+
years of sustainable development and livelihoods work globally
40+
countries where Islamic Relief runs livelihoods and development programmes
Millions
of people lifted toward self-reliance through cash grants, training, and enterprise support
How We Support Sustainable Livelihoods
Our livelihoods programmes are built on a simple but powerful principle: give people the means to help themselves, and they will build a better future for their families and communities. We work across multiple areas to ensure that our support is comprehensive, dignified, and lasting.
Cash Grants and Interest-Free Loans
We provide cash grants and interest-free loans to individuals and families who want to start or grow a small business. This seed funding removes the most common barrier to entrepreneurship: access to capital. Recipients use these funds to purchase equipment, stock, or raw materials, and begin generating a sustainable income.
Skills Development and Vocational Training
We run vocational training programmes that equip participants with practical, marketable skills. From tailoring and crafts to agricultural techniques and small business management, our training programmes are designed to match the economic opportunities available in each community.
Agricultural and Food Security Support
For rural and peri-urban communities, agriculture is often the most accessible route to economic stability. We provide seeds, tools, training, and irrigation support to smallholder farmers, helping them to increase yields, reduce food insecurity, and generate surplus income through market access.
Enterprise Development and Mentorship
Starting a business is only the beginning. We provide ongoing mentorship and business development support to help participants grow their enterprises, manage their finances, access markets, and build the confidence to become employers in their own communities.
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Women are often the most economically marginalised members of a community, yet they are also among the most effective agents of change. Our livelihoods programmes prioritise women’s participation, providing targeted support that enables women to earn independently, support their children’s education, and contribute to household and community wellbeing.
Community Cooperatives and Group Enterprises
In some communities, we establish cooperatives that allow individuals to pool resources, share skills, and build collective enterprises. This model reduces individual risk, increases bargaining power, and creates a support network that sustains economic activity long after our direct involvement ends.
Livelihoods in Action: Project Examples
Across the globe, Islamic Relief runs livelihoods projects tailored to the specific needs and opportunities of each community. Below are three examples of the kinds of projects your donation supports.
Barber Shops, Jordan
Islamic Relief supports vulnerable families in Jordan by helping them set up barber shops in their villages. This provides a reliable income, creates new jobs in the community, and establishes safe social spaces where community members can connect.
Beekeeping, Syrian Refugees
We support Syrian refugee families with beehives, tools, and training in beekeeping. Families learn to harvest honey and sell it within their communities, creating a reliable and dignified source of income that they can sustain independently.
Chicken Farming
We provide vulnerable families with chickens, chicken houses, incubators, and training. Families use eggs for food or sell them at local markets, generating income to cover essentials such as food, school fees, and household needs.
Livelihoods Support in South Africa
South Africa faces some of the highest unemployment and inequality rates in the world. For many communities, the barriers to economic participation are not a lack of willingness or ability, but a lack of access to capital, training, and opportunity. Islamic Relief South Africa’s livelihoods programme addresses these barriers directly, working with communities across the country to create pathways toward self-reliance.
Our local livelihoods work includes support for small-scale farming, skills development, enterprise grants, and community-based cooperatives. We work with individuals and families who have the drive and determination to build a better future, and we provide the practical support they need to turn that determination into lasting change.
Every livelihoods project we run is designed with one goal in mind: to make itself unnecessary. When a participant no longer needs our support because they are earning, growing, and thriving independently, that is when we know the programme has succeeded.
What Islam Teaches About Supporting Livelihoods
Islam places great emphasis on the dignity of work and the responsibility of the community to support those who are struggling. The Quran affirms that spending in the way of Allah multiplies the reward of the giver, and that true generosity means giving from what we love most.
Never will you attain the good until you spend from that which you love. And whatever you spend, indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.
Quran, 3:92
Donating to livelihoods programmes is one of the most aligned forms of charity in Islam. Rather than creating dependency, it creates capability. Rather than offering a temporary solution, it builds a permanent one. And because the benefit continues long after the donation is made, it carries the qualities of Sadaqah Jariyah: an ongoing charity whose reward continues for as long as the beneficiary continues to benefit.
Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and have loaned Allah a goodly loan, it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.
Quran, 57:18
By supporting Islamic Relief South Africa’s livelihoods programmes, you are not simply giving someone money. You are giving them the means to provide for their families, support their communities, and live with the dignity that Islam affirms is the right of every human being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sustainable livelihoods programme and how is it different from food aid?
Food aid addresses an immediate need: hunger. A sustainable livelihoods programme addresses the root cause of that need: the inability to earn a reliable income. Where food aid provides a meal, a livelihoods programme provides the means to buy many meals. Islamic Relief South Africa runs both types of programmes because both are necessary. Emergency food relief saves lives in a crisis, while livelihoods support prevents the next crisis from occurring. Together, they form a comprehensive approach to poverty that is both compassionate and strategic.
Can I use my Zakat to support livelihoods programmes?
Yes. Zakat may be given to the poor and the needy, which are among the eight categories of eligible Zakat recipients defined in the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60). Livelihoods programmes that directly benefit individuals who qualify as poor or needy are eligible to receive Zakat funds. Islamic Relief South Africa ensures that Zakat is directed only to eligible recipients. If you would like to confirm that your Zakat will be used for livelihoods support, please contact our Donor Care team on 021 696 0145 or email info@islamic-relief.org.za.
Does a donation to livelihoods count as Sadaqah Jariyah?
In many cases, yes. When a livelihoods donation enables a person to build a sustainable business or develop a skill that they use for years, the benefit of that donation continues long after it was made. Islamic scholars have affirmed that any charity whose benefit continues after the donor’s death qualifies as Sadaqah Jariyah. A cash grant that helps someone start a business that supports their family for a decade is a powerful example of ongoing charity. The Quran reminds us: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains” (Quran 2:261). The reward for that ongoing benefit continues to reach the donor.
Who does Islamic Relief South Africa’s livelihoods programme support?
Our livelihoods programme supports individuals and families living in poverty who have the motivation and capacity to build a sustainable income but lack the resources to do so. This includes unemployed adults, women-headed households, smallholder farmers, youth who are not in education or employment, and communities in under-resourced areas of South Africa. Participants are identified through community assessments and are selected based on need, potential, and commitment to the programme.
What kind of support does a livelihoods participant receive?
Support varies depending on the programme and the participant’s needs, but typically includes a combination of financial support (cash grants or interest-free loans), practical training (skills development, business management, agricultural techniques), equipment or materials (tools, seeds, stock), and ongoing mentorship. The goal is to provide a comprehensive package that gives participants the best possible chance of building a sustainable income, rather than simply providing a one-off payment and hoping for the best.
How do you ensure that livelihoods support creates lasting change rather than dependency?
This is at the heart of how we design our programmes. Every livelihoods intervention is built around the goal of self-sufficiency. We do not simply give people money: we give them the skills, tools, and knowledge to generate their own income. We provide ongoing mentorship and follow-up support to help participants overcome challenges as they arise. And we measure success not by the number of people who receive support, but by the number of people who no longer need it. Our programmes are designed to make themselves unnecessary, and that is how we know they are working.
Is my donation to livelihoods tax deductible in South Africa?
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered Section 18A organisation (NPO 043-357-NPO). All qualifying donations are tax deductible under South African law. Upon request, we will issue you with a Section 18A tax certificate that you can submit to SARS when filing your annual tax return. Please ensure you provide your full name, ID number or tax number, and email address when making your donation so that we can issue your certificate promptly.
How much of my donation reaches the livelihoods programme?
According to our published figures, 86 cents of every rand donated reaches the people we serve. The remainder covers essential operational costs such as field staff salaries, logistics, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational administration. These costs are necessary to ensure that programmes are delivered effectively, safely, and accountably. We do not operate a 100% donation policy, as this would compromise the quality and sustainability of our work. You can read more about how your donations are used on the Islamic Relief website.
Can I read about the impact of previous livelihoods projects?
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa publishes impact reports and success stories that document the real-world outcomes of our livelihoods programmes. You can read the stories of Juma Ndayizeyi, Rogers Ngezahayo, and Nombulelo Dada on our website, each of whom received support through our livelihoods programme and has gone on to build a sustainable income and a brighter future for their family. These stories reflect the kind of transformation that your donation makes possible.
How do I donate to the livelihoods programme?
You can donate to our livelihoods programmes in the following ways:
Bank Transfer: Standard Bank | Account Name: Islamic Relief SA | Branch: Fordsburg | Branch Code: 005205 | Account No: 005318459 | Swift: SBZAZAJJ | Reference: Livelihoods + your mobile number.
Online: Visit donate.islamic-relief.org.za and select the Livelihoods fund.
Phone: Call us on 021 696 0145 or toll-free on 0800 111 898 and our Donor Care team will assist you.
Email: Send your query to info@islamic-relief.org.za and we will get back to you promptly.