Cities and urban settings are crucial to preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from health emergencies, and therefore enhancing the focus on urban settings is necessary for countries pursuing improved overall health security. WHO has published the Framework for Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness in Cities and Urban Settings in order to support policy-makers and decision-makers in the public health sector, as well as other relevant actors and stakeholders across sectors that are engaged in health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings. In particular, it aims to: a) provide an overview of, and insight into, the key areas that national and subnational authorities may consider focusing on in strengthening health emergency preparedness at the urban level, and b) guide and support the development of policies and capacity building activities at both the national and sub-national level to strengthen health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings, based on priority risks and existing gaps.