Dr El-Banna is the founder of Islamic Relief, the largest Western-based international Muslim relief and development NGO. Established in 1984, the organization provides assistance in over 45 countries worldwide. HM the late Queen Elizabeth honoured El-Banna’s work, giving him an OBE for his services to the community. In 2015, Islamic Relief signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Union, formalizing a partnership to tackle poverty in the continent.