The extent to which cities in Africa face climate change and natural hazard related disaster risks is shaped by much more than just their exposure to hazard. Past and
current patterns of urban growth and development have shaped the context of risk in multiple ways. The economies, spatial form, societies, and governance of African
cities all create the circumstances in which particular threats turn into disasters. By taking these underlying circumstances more fully into account, policy makers and
planners can intervene in ways that will reduce risk to cities and their inhabitants. This briefing presents key messages from a critical review exploring the distinguishing
features of the African urban experience and the implications for risk and risk reduction.