This document discusses building resilience to natural disasters in coastal communities in West Africa. It provides statistics on disasters in Africa from 1980 to 2008 that killed over 700,000 people and affected over 319 million. The key elements of coastal community resilience discussed are governance, livelihoods, coastal resource management, land use planning, risk knowledge, warning and evacuation, emergency response, and disaster recovery. Building resilience involves four pillars: preparedness, protection, emergency response, and recovery. A resilient city is one that is prepared for hazards, protects people and infrastructure, can effectively respond, and promotes sustainable development after disasters.