Urban risk, city planning and the role of local governments in dealing with risk reduction have been recognized as key factors to build resilient communities and nations since the beginning of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 considers that both communities and local authorities should be empowered to manage and reduce disaster risk by having access to the necessary information, resources and authority to implement actions. Poor urban governance, informal settlements on unsafe land, declining ecosystems and vulnerable rural livelihoods are main underlying risk drivers, which need to be addressed to build safer cities.