Activity Description: It took 16 years of hard labour to reclaim land from swamps and to construct terraces and a drainage and irrigation system at Tikondwe Freedom Gardens. The 20-hectare Garden is a successful example of organic fruit and vegetable cultivation by the local population. They are a place for experimentation aimed at minimising pressure on the environment.

Operated by Mr Chikhuntha, the enterprise is expanding into poultry and fish farming.

Activity Description: The Malambe Fruit Juice Company of Malawi produces fresh juice from the fruit of the native baobab tree for sale in local markets. Some 4000 bottles a month are supplied to major stores and hotel chains. 50% of profits are reinvested in the sustainability of the project, while 30% goes to local community, and 20% to the producers.

Activity Description: Telecom Networks Malawi (TN Malawi) recently launched its Community Phone program in order to fulfill its license mandate from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority. The Community Phone program distributes mobile phones to private operators who expect to turn a 35% profit margin from the business of selling mobile phone time to villagers who previously have had to travel to cities in order to make a phone call.

Activity Description: Pride Africa is a microfinance organization that is using IT for increased efficiency and faster growth. It launched its portal "DrumNet," which stores information on the buying and business habits of Pride clients, in order to group the purchasing power of thousands of small entrepreneurs. Pride is also developing improved loan tracking software and, under its SunLink program, investigating the use of swipe cards and information kiosks.

Activity Description: In 1999, Unilever Africa Regional Group created a separate business unit called Popular Foods to target mass-market consumers with nutritious foods at affordable prices. One of their first products was Annapurna, a refined iodised salt sold in small sachets to help preserve the iodine - a product originally developed for the Indian market by Hindustan Lever. The salt has important health benefits for those who suffer from Iodine Deficiency Disorder, which can cause retardation, brain damage, and, in pregnancy, stillbirths and congenital abnormalities.