Lake Malawi Projects (LMP) is a rural development organisation which works in Likoma District, Malawi.
LMP’s primary aim is to enable local communities to improve their standard of living and help them address the causes of poverty. We employ an holistic district-wide development strategy comprising programmes to improve agricultural productivity, address the skills shortage, and reduce the impact of HIV/Aids.
LMP also provides technical support to a number of village community projects which it helped to set up. 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 charity in Malawi, which employs eight 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 £480. Aids is a major problem, with 15% of the population HIV positive. Life expectancy is 37. Formal employment is less than 5% of the working age population.

Soil erosion and exhaustion are endemic in the district and a huge factor in the poor local diet. LMP runs ten demonstration gardens, and conducts monthly open day training events, to show to local people how soils can be revitalised and local diets diversified and improved...More

Vocational training is a key way in which to boost employment and services. LMP currently runs carpentry, tin smithing and brick laying courses, and operates a tin smith and carpentry workshop...More

Computers were introduced to the district in early 2004 but no training was provided. LMP runs a computer training programme for workers, and provides classes to primary students at its computer centre ...More

Villages in the district need activities that can bring employment, a sustainable income, and improvements in welfare. Working with villages, we have set up chicken farms, maize mills, transportation boats, and a restaurant and bakery.