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By Lenah Bosibori
Nairobi, Kenya: Air quality experts, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa and beyond are set to gather in Nairobi from July 15–17 for the third edition of the CLEAN-Air Forum, a flagship continental event focused on collaborative solutions to combat air pollution.
Held under the theme “Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions,” the forum aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration among governments, researchers, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to address the growing health and environmental threats posed by poor air quality across Africa.
The 2025 edition is jointly convened by AirQo, a pan-African air quality research initiative based at Makerere University, in partnership with the Health Effects Institute (HEI), World Resources Institute Africa (WRI), and the Nairobi City County Government. It builds on the momentum of previous editions held in Kampala (2023) and Lagos (2024).
“The CLEAN-Air Forum has become Africa’s leading platform for driving evidence, innovation, and equity in air quality,” said Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at WRI. “The theme is a timely reminder: no one city, country, or community can solve this crisis alone. We have to work together.”
Recent findings from HEI’s “Health Effects of Air Pollution in East Africa” report reveal a sobering reality: air pollution was responsible for approximately 294,000 deaths in 2021 across the region ranking as the second leading cause of mortality after malnutrition.
The report identifies biomass fuel combustion and vehicular emissions as the primary pollution sources, exacerbated by limited monitoring infrastructure. Despite Nairobi’s global reputation as an environmental hub, the city still operates fewer than 100 publicly accessible air quality monitors.
“Air pollution remains a major public health and environmental threat, both locally and globally,” said Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Adding “The data we collect must drive inclusive and informed action.”
Nairobi’s monitoring efforts have expanded in recent years, supported by initiatives such as AirQo, UNEP, Breathe Cities, and the GEOHealth Hub, working in tandem with the county government to close critical data gaps.
More than 300 participants are expected to attend, representing national and local governments, academic institutions, grassroots organizations, tech startups, donor agencies, and international partners. The forum will feature high-level keynote addresses, panel discussions, data-sharing workshops, and strategic planning sessions.
Among the keynote speakers is Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who emphasized the importance of unified action.
“When we collaborate, we share expertise, benchmark standards, and speak with one voice,” Dr. Ajayi said. “The CLEAN-Air Forum is helping African cities build that shared language and vision.”
Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Mathew Ochieng Owili, Deputy Governor of Kisumu County, highlighted the potential of regional collaboration to unlock innovation and financing.
“Through shared data, harmonized policies, and joint strategies, cities can access more funding and implement innovation faster,” he noted. “I hope this Forum catalyzes a united front, bigger investments, stronger commitments, and new partnerships for clean air.”
This year’s forum will also mark the launch of a renewed strategic vision for the Africa Clean Air Network, a continent-wide platform that connects practitioners, researchers, and advocates in advancing science-driven, people-centered air quality solutions.
Since its inception in 2023 at the Kampala forum, the Network has grown into a vital force bridging science and policy, expanding Africa’s air quality data infrastructure, raising awareness, and influencing bold policy reforms across borders.
