This text aims to stimulate debate about risk reduction in urban settings and to identify key issues for further advocacy. The authors propose a conceptual framework for understanding urban vulnerability and link the concept with disaster risk.

Forward
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Christina Nomado
Part 1: Understanding urban vulnerability
Chapter 1: Urban vulnerability: A conceptual framework, Erika Coetzee
Chapter 2: Dimensions of urban environmental risk
Part 2: The Southern African context
Chapter 3: Urban challenges in southern Africa
Urban poverty and governance in southern Africa:
Local governments and urban poverty reduction in eastern and southern Africa, George Motovu
Challenges facing local governments in the SADC region with regard to their role in sustainable development, David Kithakye
Urban challenges in five southern African countries:-
Zambia, Darren Hedley, Malekiado Phiri and Liseli Bull-Kamanga
Mozambique, Vicento Vasco
Zimbabwe, Marck Chikanza
Malawi, Ruth Butao Ayoade
South Africa, South Africa's Urban Development Framework (1997)
Part 3: Case studies from southern Africa: Strategies for addressing urban vulnerability
Chapter 4: Increasing access to services, assets and opportunities
Case study 1: The Ntwanano Project: Urban vulnerability and youth - Maputo, Mozambique, Vincent Vasco
Case Study 2: The CSC-GTZ Urban Poverty Alleviation Project
Urban vulnerability and service delivery - Lilongwe and Mzuzu City, Malawi, Ruth Batao Ayoade
Case study 3: Partnership for adolescent Sexual and Reproductive health Project (PALS): Urban vulnerability and health - Ndola, Lusaka and Livingstone, Zambia, Francis K. Chanda
Chapter 5: Increasing security in the urban enviroment
Case study 4: Food security and nutrition: A comparison of rural and urban situations - Mozambique, Carina Ismael and Stephan Meershoek
Case study 5: MANDISA: Monitoring, Mapping and Analysis of Disaster Incidents in South Africa: Urban vulnerability and disaster mitigation, Christina Nomdo/Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme
Case study 6: Incineration of obsolete pesticides: Urban vulnerability and waste management - Motola, Mozambique, Manuela D, Rassel and Jorge Guzman
Chapter 6: Increasing participation in urban development
Case study 7: PROSPECT (Programme of support for poverty Elimination and Community Transformation): Urban vulnerability and governance - Lusaka, Zambia
Darren Hedley, Malekiado Phiri and Liseli Bull-Kamanga
Case study 8: Local Government & Gender Project: Urban vulnerability and women in governance - South Africa Gender Advocasy Programme
Case study 9: Integrated Urban Development Project: Urban vulnerability and integrated planning - Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, Marck Chikanza
Conclusion
Christina Nomdo.

Oxfam