AirQo, an African air quality monitoring initiative, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Earthshot Prize in recognition of its work using affordable technology and artificial intelligence to track air pollution across African cities.
The initiative was selected in the Clean Our Air category for developing low-cost monitoring devices and open-data platforms that help governments, researchers and residents understand pollution levels and identify areas requiring intervention.
In Kenya, AirQo has partnered with Nairobi City County Government and other stakeholders to install more than 100 air quality monitors across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kajiado and Kiambu counties.
The monitoring network provides local data that county authorities can use to identify pollution hotspots, assess changing air quality and inform policy decisions. The information is also accessible to researchers and the public through AirQo’s data platforms.
Founded at Makerere University in Uganda in 2015, AirQo was established to address the shortage of reliable air pollution data in African cities. Its founder, Professor Engineer Bainomugisha, developed the initiative after observing worsening air quality in Kampala and the limited availability of affordable monitoring systems.
The organisation combines fixed monitoring stations with mobile devices mounted on motorcycle taxis, commonly known as boda bodas, to capture pollution levels at street level. Artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools help validate sensor readings, forecast pollution levels and identify locations where additional monitoring is needed.
Air pollution remains a major public health concern across Africa. According to the information provided by AirQo, it was the continent’s second-leading risk factor for death in 2019, contributing to an estimated 1.1 million deaths that year.
AirQo now operates more than 500 monitors across over 16 cities in nine African countries, providing air quality information to communities with a combined population exceeding 30 million.
As a finalist, the initiative will receive support from the Earthshot Prize to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships with governments and investors, and build local technical capacity.
Prince William, founder and president of the Earthshot Prize, said the finalists demonstrated that practical solutions to environmental challenges were already making progress.
The 2026 finalists were selected from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries. Five winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Mumbai, India, in November, with each winner receiving support to scale their environmental solutions.
