Established in January 2020, the Centre for Community Empowerment Initiatives (CCEI) is a legally registered non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and a member of the Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi (CONGOMA). CCEI is also licensed to operate as an NGO by the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA). The NGO was founded to accelerate the transfer of technologies from developers to end-users, especially smallholder farmers. This focus aims to boost agricultural productivity and profitability, thereby raising living standards.

The organisation's broader goals include enhancing income, food and nutrition security, creating employment, improving water and sanitation, and supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation and environmental conservation through accessible, low-cost solutions.