AFIKEPO is a Chichewa word, which in English means “Let them develop to their full potential.” It focuses on achieving optimal nutrition for women of child bearing age, adolescent girls, infants and young children .

The programme, whose overall objective is to enhance nutrition and food security in Malawi, will run up to 2025. It is expected to achieve the following results:

1. Improved harmonisation and integration of nutrition into the curricula of schools and training institutions and increased number of PDAs in nutrition (certificate, diploma and degree levels), to improve their knowledge and communication skills.
2. An effective food and nutrition security information system established at national and district levels, which complements other existing information systems and contributes to development planning and monitoring mechanisms.
3. Malawi National Nutrition Committee (MNNC) and District Nutrition Coordinating Committees (DNCC) capacitated to fulfil their roles and responsibilities to advocate for nutrition related interventions for achieving better nutrition.
4. National policies informed by evidence based information on nutrition-sensitive interventions generated/disseminated through improved advocacy.
5. Good quality services and implementation achieved by effective programme management and coordination. 

It was formulated after noting that there were a lot of gaps in dealing with undernutrition. It was observed that there was inadequate coordination among sectors coupled with  very little impact on reducing stunting levels.
Actions of the programme are in line with priority and policy commitments of the Government of Malawi, the European Union (EU) and other associated development partners.
AFIKEPO’s Financing Agreement was signed in March 2017 by Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Hon. Goodall Gondwe on behalf of the Malawi Government.  Koen Doens, Authorising Officer of the European Development Fund (EDF), signed the document on behalf of the European Commission, in Brussels, Belgium on 18 January 2017.
AFIKEPO’s total estimated cost is €74,550,000 with EU contributing a total amount of   €70,000,000, and the remainder being co-financed by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the German Cooperation.
The programme will be implemented in 10 districts in the country: Chitipa, Karonga, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Salima, Chiradzulu, Thyolo and Mulanje.