In Malawi rural poultry constitutes over 80 % of total poultry population and is raised and utilised by about 80 % of human population primarily based in rural areas and occupied by subsistence agriculture. Different poultry species are raised, mostly indigenous to the locality except in chickens where traces of Black Australorp breed are identified. Most of the species are known by vernacular names that describe their phenotype. Some phenotypes need attention to rescue them from becoming extinct. Despite their importance, rural poultry has received little attention by policy makers. Several constraints such as poor management, poor housing and feeding systems, Newcastle disease outbreaks, predation, and mating systems were identified in earlier studies. A community based project on improving and sustaining food self-sufficiency through promoting integration, multiplication and intensified utilisation of diversity of rural poultry has been initiated in villages of Mkwinda and Mitundu Extension Planning Areas (EPA), Lilongwe Agricultural Development Division. These villages surround Bunda College of Agriculture. The project aims to operate through open nucleus breeding centres established in rural communities and managed by a committee of farmers. The farmers and other community-based stakeholders are fully participating in all aspects and all decisions are made by the community committees. Two breeding and multiplication centres are established, one from each EPA, with an additional set up at Bunda College to conduct complementary trials. Breeding farmers from within the community will multiply and distribute breed stock to other farmers. Different species and strains of poultry (chickens, pigeons and ducks) will be raised and performance evaluated at the centres. The above average performing birds will be selected as breeding stock for farmers. Distribution will be through the traditional stock sharing systems. The project plans technical interventions such as Newcastle disease vaccination, feed supplementation and early weaning. Village committees and breeders will be getting trained on rural poultry management to sustain the program afterwards. The project is in its early implementation phase and aims at increasing flock sizes and flock integration among rural households; improved productivity through selection and evaluation; reduced mortality; and improved nutritional, social and economic contribution of poultry biodiversity to rural human communities. These include malnourished children, the aged and femaleheaded households, thus contributing to food security and managing poultry genetic resources.