Early Career Researcher 2024

Dr Gabriel Okello, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, School of Technology, Murray Edwards College

Dr Gabriel Okello stands with a red motorbike

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
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About the researcher

Gabriel is an active research expert in human exposure science with specific interests in addressing air pollution in rapidly urbanising cities in Africa and other LMICs through a) increasing awareness on the effects of air pollution and climate change on human health and the environment, b) increasing access and capacity to interpret air quality data, c) integrating this air pollution evidence into policy and practice and d) simplifying existing information related to air quality interventions – including related co-benefits and unintended consequences to make it easier for decision makers to anticipate the measures available to improve air quality.

Gabriel’s research approach is centred on interdisciplinary, collaborative, and participatory involvement of actors within and outside academia (community, commercial and policy) into the co-production and co-design of context-specific evidence informed strategies to address air pollution in urban settings in Africa and other LMICs. He currently works with actors in policy, business, academia, international development in various countries in Africa, the UK, Europe, Asia and the U.S.

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
_{for Research Impact and Engagement}

About the researcher

Dr Okello (far right) and colleagues at the Clean Air Forum 2024 in Lagos.

I am certain that Dr Okello's contributions will have a lasting positive impact on air quality in Uganda, and that his expertise and leadership will continue to advance his passion to address air quality for our county, across Africa and beyond.

Victor Nahabwe
National Environment Management Authority, Uganda

What is the research?

Applying multidisciplinary, collaborative approaches to tackle air pollution in rapidly urbanising African cities.

The project catalysed Uganda’s first-ever Air Quality Standards, advancing policy and public health. It drove transformative growth in the e-mobility sector, increasing electric motorcycles from 200 to over 3,000 and battery-swapping stations from 25 to 115 within three years.

Groundbreaking government incentives such as 0% import duty on electric vehicles, VAT exemptions, and tax breaks further accelerated e-mobility adoption. The Clean Air Network was established as a multi-regional community of practice for air quality management across Africa. Additionally, the AirQo platform now provides real-time air quality data, empowering evidence-based decision-making in Uganda and 8 other African countries.

The Air Quality and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) project tackles air pollution—a critical driver of premature deaths, environmental harm, and climate change. Air pollution is the second leading global cause of death, responsible for 8.1 million deaths annually, including over 1.1 million in Africa and over 30,000 in Uganda. Its economic toll is immense, costing the global economy $8.1 trillion annually (6.1% of GDP), according to the World Bank. This underscores the urgent need for targeted, context-specific interventions.

The project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (health and well-being) and Goal 11 (sustainable cities), with a focus on reducing pollution-related illness (target 3.9) and NCD mortality (target 3.4). Rapid urbanisation in African cities, including Kampala and Jinja, exacerbates air pollution. However, the lack of localized evidence and limited technical expertise impede meaningful action. Moreover, conventional interventions often overlook local knowledge, adaptive capacity, and lived experiences critical to sustainable change.

As project lead, Gabriel spearheaded proposal development, secured funding, and forged strategic partnerships with policymakers, businesses, communities, and academics. He oversaw data collection and analysis to ensure scientific rigour and translated findings into actionable policy and practice.

Employing collaborative participatory methods, the team synthesised evidence and co-designed solutions with stakeholders, integrating scientific data and local insights. This approach fostered community ownership of both challenges and solutions, driving sustainable action to mitigate air pollution in Uganda.

This project exemplifies the power of multidisciplinary collaboration to address complex challenges. By combining scientific evidence with local knowledge and fostering partnerships across sectors, the team have created equitable, scalable solutions with transformative potential.

The process has taught them the value of trust, inclusivity, and adaptability. These lessons will inform future projects, ensuring they remain impactful and sustainable while advancing global efforts to improve air quality and promote public health.