What creates resilience? Are co-operatives particularly resilient organisations? If so, what explains it? And if there are aspects that are not so resilient, what can be about them?

These are issues of vital importance for co-operatives everywhere. This paper reports on the findings of a collaborative research project between the Cooperative College and The Open University. The research was carried out in Malawi, and we are sure the findings will have a wide resonance. Indeed, it is our hope that they will help inform strategies for co-operative development in many countries and parts of the world.

The success of this project was in no small measure due to the considerable support received from the co-operative movement in Malawi and this assistance is greatly appreciated. We would also like to record our thanks
to the project researchers, Sara Vicari and Alex Borda-Rodriguez, and their commitment and tenacity throughout the research process. Finally, we thank the Leverhulme Trust, without whose funding support this research would not have been possible.