Sagwata Manyike is an experienced urban planner and local government practitioner from South Africa. He currently works for the South African Local Government Association as a Senior Advisor for Economic Growth and Investments. Sagwata supports municipalities in areas such as local economic development, small-town regeneration, and spatial planning. Previously, he worked at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, where he contributed to integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services into municipal planning and decision-making processes. Sagwata is passionate about strengthening the role of local government in driving social and environmental transformation, and he actively participates in regional and international dialogues on equitable and resilient development.