LMPs primary aim is to enable local communities to improve their standard of living and help them address the causes of poverty. We employ a holistic district-wide development strategy comprising programmes to improve agricultural productivity, reduce the impact of HIV/Aids, and to address the skills shortage. User-participation and collaboration with local Malawian bodies is a key aspect of our work. The field work of LMP is managed through a registered  NGO in Malawi, which employs six workers, with a six person Executive Committee to direct and monitor activities. The population of Likoma district is 13,000 and average household household income for the region per year is $700. Aids is a major problem with 14% of the population HIV positive. Life expectancy is 37. Formal employment is less than 5% of the working age population.