We are happy to announce our 6^th annual photography competition to raise funds for the work of the Rural Poultry Centre (RPC) in Malawi. RPC focus on improving the nutrition, health and livelihoods of small-scale farmers in rural areas in Malawi through the humble village chicken.

A precious resource for a changing climate and food future

This year, we want to raise awareness of the ‘village chicken’ or backyard chicken as you may know it as. With diverse genetics enabling them to survive in low input free-range systems, these birds are a precious resource for a food and nutrition secure future. They are the cornerstone of our core work in Africa and the Pacific, where rural and coastal communities are facing significant challenges, including high rates of childhood stunting, limited income generating opportunities (particularly for youth) and a changing environment that is limiting agricultural productivity and fish catches. Small-scale chicken keeping is important, especially for communities where food supply chains are regularly disrupted by both environmental and man-made events. By supporting small-scale farmers to source nutritious food locally, we also help to lower the global carbon footprint.