How Africa's first heat officer is protecting women in Sierra Leone

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To find solutions, Freetown appointed Eugenia Kargbo as the city's chief heat officer in 2021. Kargbo is the first person in Africa to hold the position, charged with making Freetown a more liveable, greener city and helping its residents cope with rising heat. Her appointment is part of a wider plan to "Transform Freetown", an initiative introduced by Aki-Sawyerr.

A key focus for Kargbo is low-income workers. As temperatures rise, outdoor and informal workers will become more vulnerable to heat-related health risks.

The tens of thousands of women who work as vendors in Freetown's open-air markets are among the first people Kargbo is working with. "Women are one of the most disadvantaged groups exposed to extreme heat," says Kargbo. "Most of them do trading in an open-air street market, without cover or shade for survival…they are badly affected and suffering."

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Measures Kargbo has introduced as heat officer includeproviding shade covers for street vendors in three of Freetown's major open markets, and covering buildings in mirrors to help keep residents cool.

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