The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s (EPIC) Clean Air Program is proud to announce six new grantees of the EPIC Air Quality Fund. The Fund, launched last summer, supports local groups and organizations in installing air quality monitors and providing open data to some of the world’s most polluted communities. It aims to expand access to air quality data to 1 billion people by 2030, with more than $2.9 million in support from Open Philanthropy, Alpha Epsilon and other individual donors.
“Opacity and lack of data are pollution’s best friend. Time and time again, history demonstrates that reliable air quality data is an essential first building block for cleaner air and better health,” says Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and Director of EPIC. “Citizens need the data to protect themselves against the risks of air pollution. And data is needed by policymakers to develop and enforce air quality standards so progress can be measured over time. These organizations have the power to launch this change.”
The six new awardees are the second cohort of 26 projects to receive awards during this round of funding, following a call for applications that exceeded expectations with 322 submissions from 74 countries—mostly from countries identified as “higher opportunity” given their pollution levels and limited resources. The projects will be funded over an 18-month period to enhance air quality infrastructure, share the data openly, and drive national-level impact on air pollution across 16 countries by 2026.
The projects come as air pollution is recognized as the number one health risk to humankind, with EPIC’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) showing that the burden of pollution on life expectancy outstrips that of malaria, HIV/AIDS and transportation injuries combined. In the 16 countries where projects will be deployed, citizens are losing a combined 1.7 billion life years due to particulate pollution.
While research shows that installing air quality monitors and sharing real-time data with the public in places with very little or no data leads to cleaner air, nearly 40 percent of countries—many of which satellite data shows are highly polluted—aren’t producing open air quality data for their citizens. Of the 16 countries where projects will be deployed, more than half lack open air quality data. Only 15 government monitors provide such open data throughout these 16 countries.
The 26 projects will change that. The projects, 15 of which will be led by government-related entities, plan to launch more than 700 government monitors. Seven of the projects will be the first air quality monitoring of their type in their country. Additionally, 17 of the projects aim to advocate for the creation of their country’s first national air quality standard, which currently does not exist in 13 of the awardee countries.
“EPIC Air Quality Fund awardees represent some of the world’s best chances to close air quality data gaps and advance clean air policy in places where citizens’ lives are being seriously impacted by air pollution, yet where there have been scarce resources deployed to address the issue,” says Christa Hasenkopf, director of EPIC’s Clean Air Program. “Their work is pioneering and an inspiration for their countries and the world.”
This cohort joins twelve ongoing projects awarded in January 2025, and four ongoing projects awarded in 2024. Data produced from the projects will be shared in a fully open manner, and EPIC is partnering with the non-profit OpenAQ to ensure the data can be used in as many ways as possible by scientists, decision-makers, and the general public.
Learn more about the six new EPIC Air Quality Fund awardees:
Burkina Faso
Awardee: Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de Environment / Université Joseph KY ZERBO led by Issoufou OUARMA
The award will support the deployment of a low-cost air quality monitoring network across industrial, urban, and rural areas in Burkina Faso, where air quality data is scarce or nonexistent. These monitoring stations will capture real-time data on PM2.5 and other key pollutants, providing a comprehensive snapshot of air pollution levels and trends. The collected data will be freely accessible to the public, researchers, and policymakers through an online platform, fostering transparency and encouraging community engagement.
“It is imperative to fill the data gap on air pollution in low- and middle-income countries as this is necessary to raise awareness and sensitivity for firm action on the sources of air pollution. By reducing air pollution levels in this way, countries can reduce the burden of disease attributable to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic or acute respiratory conditions, including asthma.” – Dr Issoufou OUARMA, Project Manager, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de Environment / Université Joseph KY ZERBO
Cameroon
Awardee: Douala General Hospital, led by Mbatchou Ngahane Bertrand Hugo
The award will facilitate the creation of a Reference Air-quality Data Acquisition and Reporting (RADAR) Network with the aim of establishing a comprehensive air quality monitoring system in Cameroon, using a Beta Attenuation Monitor (BAM) capable of accurately providing hourly PM2.5 and PM10 levels in Douala. In addition to generating reliable air quality data and sharing it openly on platforms that can be accessed by citizens to promote informed discussions and decisions, the monitoring station will also be used to calibrate equipment for education and research, providing relevant evidence to inform air quality and health-related policy.
“We aim to establish a pioneering air quality monitoring system in Douala that not only provides real-time open data on PM2.5 levels but also empowers communities and policymakers with the information needed to advocate for cleaner air and implement effective health and environment policies. Through this project, we hope to set a new standard for environmental monitoring in Cameroon and drive meaningful change for public health.” – Mbatchou Ngahane Bertrand Hugo, Pneumologist, Medical Director, Douala General Hospital
Awardee: Health of Population in Transition Research Group led by Felix Assah
The award will support the installation of a reference-grade air quality monitor in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In addition to providing continuous, real-time air quality data this monitor will also serve to calibrate a network of low-cost air pollution sensors deployed across the city, significantly enhancing monitoring resolution. This initiative will be a first of its kind in Yaoundé, a city grappling with severe air pollution from traffic emissions, suspended dust, biomass fuel use, slash-and-burn practices, and seasonal Harmattan dust storms. The air quality data generated will be a vital resource for evidence-based awareness, policy advocacy, and action.
“Firstly, we plan to use the evidence to be generated from this project to tell a better contextually-aligned story of the state of air quality in the city of Yaoundé, with some spatio-temporal dynamics. Secondly, we hope to sensitize and raise awareness among Yaoundé city-dwellers on the causes and consequences of air pollution based on local evidence, and discuss what they can do about it. Thirdly, we wish that these can provoke even a single ripple in the calm sea of actions that may eventually lead to policies and interventions!” – Dr Felix K. Assah, Senior Lecturer of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé
Pakistan
Awardee: University of the Punjab, led by Zaeem bin Babar
The award will enhance Pakistan’s air quality monitoring capabilities by establishing Faisalabad’s first-ever air quality monitoring network. This project will deploy 10 low-cost air quality monitors across key areas (industrial, commercial, and residential sectors) in Faisalabad, which is Pakistan’s third most populous city and a major industrial hub. The obtained PM2.5 data will be used to identify pollution hotspots and advocate for stricter air quality standards, ultimately contributing towards improving air quality and public health.
“Clean air is a fundamental human right. The main goal is empowering communities with real-time data to breathe easier. By deploying a network of low-cost air quality monitors across Faisalabad, to identify pollution hotspots, advocate for stricter regulations, and inspire collective action. We believe that by making air quality data accessible to all, we can drive positive change and improve public health.” – Dr. Zaeem Bin Babar, Assistant Professor, Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab
Awardee: The Urban Unit, led by Muhammad Omar Masud
The award will support the strengthening of Pakistan’s existing air quality monitoring network through the installation of 160 low-cost air quality monitors across 10 cities in Pakistan. This project aims to enhance data integration, support policy implementation, and facilitate the dissemination of health advisories. The collected data will be publicly accessible through a dedicated online portal, allowing users to download datasets, visualize trends, and incorporate insights into research and policymaking. By ensuring open access to air quality data, the project will empower local governments to develop city-level action plans for air quality improvement. Additionally, it will equip citizen groups with reliable data for advocacy and driving meaningful changes in air quality policies.
“Pakistan is faced with deteriorating air quality and before it becomes a case of ‘Too Little Too Late’, we want to use the sensors being made available to us through the EPIC fund to aggressively make available open-source air quality data for different cities in Pakistan for analysis, actions, and planning. We are confident that once consistent and reliable air quality data starts flowing in, the Urban Unit with its expertise and vantage point in the government will be in a position to push policy and legislative action for improvement in overall air quality standards in the country.” – Muhammad Omar Masud, Chief Executive Officer, The Urban Unit
Zambia
Awardee: Trilateral Research Ltd. in collaboration with University of Zambia, led by Srivatsan Rajagopalan and Dr. Halwindi Hikabasa
The award will support the installation of a network of 20 low-cost air quality monitors in Lusaka, Zambia, transforming air quality management by addressing the critical need for reliable pollution data. Strategically placed in schools, hospitals, residential areas, and traffic hotspots, these monitors will provide real-time air quality monitoring data over 12 months. The collected data will be openly accessible to policymakers, researchers, and the community, equipping stakeholders with the information necessary to drive informed action.
“We are thrilled about this project and its potential to make a significant impact! Our goal is to generate real-time, population-level data on air quality in Lusaka, providing insights into exposure patterns and pollution hotspots. This data will be accessible to guide local decision-making and support targeted actions to address air quality challenges. By raising awareness among the public and policymakers, we aim to emphasize the importance of air quality management for health. We also seek to foster discussions, build the capacity of environmental and health agencies to monitor and interpret data, and drive interventions to improve Lusaka’s air quality.” – Dr. Halwindi Hikabasa, Project Lead (Zambia), University of Zambia and Srivatsan Rajagopalan, Project Lead (England), Trilateral Research
About EPIC Clean Air Program
The EPIC Clean Air Program is working to bring actionable information about the quality of the air we breathe and its impact on our health to every corner of the globe in order to motivate action and lay guideposts for efficient air pollution policies. This work includes an EPIC Air Quality Fund to bring high quality and high frequency air pollution monitoring and data access to the places of the world where it is needed most; the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which uses air pollution data to translate the impact of pollution on a person’s life expectancy; and several particulate pollution trading markets being piloted in Indian cities in coordination with state governments.