Eugenia Kargbo

Eugenia Kargbo (born 1987) is a Sierra Leonean civil servant. In 2021, in an attempt to address the impact of rising temperatures in Freetown, she was appointed the city's heat officer, becoming the first heat officer in Africa.

Personal life Kargbo was born and raised in Freetown, the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone. She attended Fourah Bay College, a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone, and also studied for a time in Milan, Italy.

Kargbo lives in Freetown with her two children.

In 2017, mudslides in Freetown following days of torrential rain resulted in the deaths of 1,141 people, in addition to over 3000 people becoming homeless. This incident, in addition to concerns Kargbo had on the impact of climate change and deforestation on the livability of Freetown, including for her own children, led to her changing careers. Kargbo began working for Freetown City Council, initially focused on projects around job creation and improving sanitation in the city. Kargbo launched the NetworkMe SL platform, to strengthen the professional skills of young people in Sierra Leone and offering training, internships and contacts with potential employers.

Recognition In 2022, Time named Kargbo as one of its "100 Next" of up and coming figures that are shaping the future.