This study, undertaken by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre (RCRCCC), was commissioned to offer concrete ways to take forward shock-sensitive social protection in Malawi. Led by the Government and supported by German Cooperation/GIZ, the World Bank Group, and World Food Programme (WFP), it looks at how social protection and humanitarian work can be implemented to provide predictable support to the most vulnerable, including in the face of shocks. The concept of shock-sensitive social protection has become a national priority in Malawi, and is reflected in the new Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III, the Malawi National Social Support Programme (MNSSP II), the National Resilience Strategy, and the Joint Emergency Food Aid Programme (JEFAP) Guidelines. This study supports these processes. As a concept, it proposes alternatives that can be further contextualized and refined in practice by the Government and its partners and provides case studies from within the country, regionally and globally. Partnerships are key to developing resilience and we welcome the support of our development partners as we continue to define the shock-sensitive social protection agenda for Malawi.