Redefining Urban Social Protection Programmes in Malawi: Lessons from the Covid-19 Emergency Urban Cash Intervention (CUCI)

As part of the National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, the government of Malawi initiated an urban social protection programme. The Covid-19 Emergency Urban Cash Intervention (CUCI) targeted poor and vulnerable households in low-income and informal communities, with the aim of cushioning their livelihoods from the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic. The programme targeted those who primarily derive their livelihoods from the informal sector, especially piecework or petty trading, or those laid off work. As the country’s first cash transfer programme to focus on urban areas, the CUCI provided a conducive and fertile learning ground for shaping future policy and programming. This policy brief summarises research conducted as part of the FCDO-funded Covid Collective programme and highlights key lessons learned from Malawi’s CUCI programme around urban social protection interventions.