SMIHLE’s purpose is to develop and promote operational models and practices that strengthen the delivery of food security services that mainstream HIV/AIDS and gender. The program benefits 30,000 households with 165,000 secondary beneficiaries in 6 Traditional Authorities (TAs) in Lilongwe 3-(Kabudula, Mazengera and Kalumbu) and Dowa 3- (Dzoole, Chiwere and Chakhaza) Districts.

The SMIHLE program focuses on: i) Improving knowledge and understanding of the relationship between HIV/AIDS and food security; ii) Strengthening CBOs to manage food security activities that mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS; iii) Strengthening linkages between CSOs, CBOs, Govt and the private sector to facilitate responsive service delivery.

Through work with community-based organisations (CBOs) at the group village head level (GVDCs) the program is expected to potentially benefit over 420,000 people in the two districts. By working through these community-based structures the program ensures that the most vulnerable households (including female-headed households, households hosting orphans, households caring for chronically ill persons, and child-headed and elderly-headed households) are accessing and benefiting from program activities