What We Do
Community Air Quality Monitoring
Community-led monitoring creates local evidence where reliable air quality data is missing, with support to establish and sustain networks.
Locally led monitoring
Start with a question that matters locally.
What are children breathing at school? Where is pollution going unmeasured? Local partners define the questions and the places where better evidence could make a difference.
In Kenya, our initial partnership with The Demography Project supports school and community monitoring with 50 outdoor monitors. Local knowledge gives the measurements their purpose.
Beyond the equipment
A useful network needs people behind it.
We help partners think through the practical work that turns equipment into reliable local evidence. Communities receiving donated monitors are expected to share the air quality data publicly through OpenAQ and AirGradient.
Get a project off the ground
Community Grants currently focus on monitors, shipping, import duties, and modest deployment costs. We are raising additional funding for wider local coordination, education, and advocacy.
Explore Community GrantsKeep measurements useful
Plan monitor locations, installation, equipment care, and data quality checks. The monitoring toolkit brings practical guidance together in one place.
Use the monitoring toolkitMake evidence part of local decisions
Interpret the data in its local context, explain the findings, and identify the decisions they can inform. Training and communication support connect measurements with community priorities.
Explore capacity buildingOur initial pilot partnerships
Different places. Locally led work.
Our first four pilot partnerships connect access to monitoring with research, citizen science, schools, and community advocacy.
Africa Clean Air Network
The Sensor Bank Scheme places calibrated monitors into the hands of researchers, institutions, and community groups across Africa. OAF’s initial contribution supports access to monitoring equipment where it is needed.
Explore project
UrbanBetter, African Hubs
UrbanBetter empowers communities across African cities to improve air quality through citizen science and active mobility. Portable monitors support its youth-led work across its African hubs.
Explore project
MAJI, Nigeria
The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative aims to expand its DATACAB air monitoring portal and monitoring network to secondary schools and technical institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Explore projectThe Demography Project, Kenya
This youth-led, community-based nonprofit uses air quality monitoring to support citizen science and action on local pollution. The initial OAF partnership supports a school-based monitoring network in Kenya.
Explore projectTake the next step
Help communities sustain their work
Additional funding can support maintenance, local coordination, training, and action.