Responding to the emerging food crisis in 2002, USAID and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) called a town meeting of relief and development organizations in Malawi. Together, they formed the Joint Emergency Food Aid Program (JEFAP) to immediately coordinate emergency food relief. JEFAP oversaw food distribution nationwide of 167,000 metric tons of food worth approximately $90 million -provided by USAID. USAID helped the Malawian government coordinate overall response to the crisis by forming a task force to deal with issues ranging from transportation to equal household rations.

In addition to food, the foremost issue in Malawi is the financial burden of HIV/AIDS. As productive family members become sicker, families face the costs of medicine, funerals, care for orphans, and the loss of their livelihood. Nine non-governmental organizations in Malawi organized the Consortium for Southern African Food Security Emergency (C-SAFE), a regional program funded by USAID. Through C-SAFE, vulnerable households receive food through an integrated HIV/AIDS program that addresses multiple needs of families. Now, with USAID funds and support, these organizations are applying the same commitment to building resilient rural communities throughout Malawi.