Sarah Watson

Sarah Watson is an urban development practitioner with over two decades of experience in public sector strategy, stakeholder engagement, land reform and sustainable city planning. Currently serving as a Project Coordinator in the Human Settlements Unit at eThekwini Municipality, Sarah has led transformative initiatives in informal settlement upgrading, policy development, and community-driven urban innovation.

Her work has earned international recognition, including being named one of the “15 Faces of Urban Innovation” by Metropolis and presenting at multiple World Urban Forums. She spearheaded the iQhaza Lethu incremental informal settlement upgrading pilot programme, and contributed to the adoption of the eThekwini Incremental Informal Settlement Upgrading Strategy.

Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Practice from the University of Cape Town, and has additional qualifications in housing policy, public relations, and social accountability. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans data analysis, risk management, and transversal coordination.