Africa Clean Air Forum Daily Update - Day 3

Africa Clean Air Forum concludes with renewed commitment to accelerate clean air action across Africa

"Clean air is an economic necessity, a public health imperative, and a social justice issue"

The final day of the Africa Clean Air Forum shifted the focus from dialogue to implementation, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers and development partners to identify practical actions that can strengthen air quality management across the continent. Interactive workshops, technical exchanges and the closing plenary reinforced a shared message: Africa has the knowledge, growing technical capacity and political momentum to tackle air pollution. Sustained collaboration, investment and evidence-based decision-making are now essential to translate ambition into cleaner air and healthier cities.

Building the knowledge and capacity needed for lasting clean air action

The day opened with a series of interactive workshops designed to identify practical pathways for strengthening air quality management capacity across Africa. One of the featured sessions, led by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), explored how the Air Quality Management Exchange (AQMx) and the future Centres of Excellence established under the African Clean Air Programme (ACAP) can work together to better support air quality practitioners across the continent.

Bringing together more than 50 representatives from national and local governments, regional organisations, academia and civil society, the workshop focused on a central question: how can knowledge platforms and regional initiatives like ACAP Centres of Excellence be better integrated to deliver sustained capacity and real-world impact?

Participants identified several priorities that will help shape the future development of the Centres of Excellence and AQMx Regional Knowledge Hubs. Discussions highlighted the need for stronger scientific research on emissions inventories, source apportionment and long-range transport of air pollution to better understand pollution sources across Africa. As more countries expand their monitoring networks and are increasingly generating local air quality data, participants also emphasized the growing need for technical support to analyse and interpret this data so that it can effectively inform policy decisions.

The workshop further discussed harmonised monitoring protocols, standards and methodologies to improve data quality, facilitate regional comparisons and strengthen the management of transboundary air pollution. Participants also stressed the importance of translating scientific evidence into practical guidance for policymakers, noting that research must be communicated in ways that support the design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based clean air policies. Finally, delegates highlighted the value of strengthening peer-to-peer learning by creating more opportunities for practitioners across Africa to exchange experiences, share lessons learned and collaborate on common challenges.

The recommendations generated during the workshop will directly inform the design and implementation of the future Centres of Excellence and AQMx Regional Knowledge Hubs, ensuring they respond to the needs identified by practitioners across the continent.

From monitoring to action: strengthening Africa's air quality evidence base

The afternoon programme included a site visit to one of the City of Tshwane's reference-grade air quality monitoring stations, providing participants with a practical demonstration of how long-term monitoring underpins effective air quality management.

The station, operational since 2006, continuously measures key pollutants including PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, sulphur dioxide and ozone, and forms part of a wider network comprising nine reference-grade monitoring stations complemented by 24 low-cost sensors. Participants learned how data from the network is validated before being published through the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS), providing policymakers, researchers and the public with reliable information to support evidence-based decision-making and track progress over time.

The visit reinforced a key theme that emerged throughout the Forum: robust, accessible air quality data is the foundation for effective policy, public accountability and sustained investment in clean air solutions.

A shared commitment to accelerate clean air action

"Air pollution is no longer a distant environmental concern, but one of the defining public health challenges of our generation, which calls for evidence-based governance."

The closing plenary brought together high-level representatives from the City of Tshwane, Gauteng Province, Kisumu County (Kenya) and the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region (CCRS) to reflect on the Forum's outcomes and chart the way forward.

Speakers reaffirmed their collective commitment to accelerate clean air action through stronger political leadership, increased investment and continued capacity development. They also called for deeper regional cooperation, including greater harmonisation of air quality standards and policies, expanded data sharing, and stronger collaboration on transboundary pollution and early warning systems.

The Forum concluded with the EPIC Air Quality Fund Awards, recognising clean air champions whose work has achieved national-level impact. This year's awardees included The Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Liberia, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria, highlighting the growing leadership emerging from countries that are advancing practical solutions to monitor and improve air quality.

Looking ahead

 As the Africa Clean Air Forum came to a close, participants left with renewed momentum and a shared commitment to accelerate action across the continent. Over three days, the Forum served as an important platform for connecting practitioners, policymakers, researchers and development partners, fostering collaboration, exchanging knowledge and showcasing practical solutions. By strengthening partnerships, sharing lessons learned and building consensus around priority actions, the Forum has helped lay the foundation for stronger regional cooperation and evidence-based clean air policies that can improve public health, support sustainable development and deliver cleaner air for communities across Africa.