Association P3, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso

Updated April 16, 2024

## Association P3 (Plastique, Projet, Pochette) in Ouahigouya: Women-led circular economy against plastic waste

### Fast facts (verified)
– What it is: A women-centered recycling initiative in Ouahigouya (Nord Region), Burkina Faso that turns discarded water-sachet plastics into usable accessories while providing paid work and training.
– Who runs it: Movement France (the NGO behind P3), active in sustainable-development projects in Burkina Faso.
– Where it is: Listed at Plus Code GJP8+F5C, Ouahigouya; directory entry also points to Movement France’s official site.
– Documented impact (as described by the project and partners):
– Training and paid work for 22 women, with ambitions to scale further.
– ~300 kg of plastic collected per month through community mobilization efforts (figure reported by the Women & Gender Constituency).
– Plans announced to create an Artisanal Plastic Recycling Centre (CARPO) in Ouahigouya (vault-and-dome construction using natural materials) and target 40 jobs by 2020. These targets were published in 2019; current status is not confirmed.

> Data freshness note: The quantitative figures above come from 2019 materials (Women & Gender Constituency “Gender-Just Climate Solutions” directory and Movement France’s project page). Treat job-creation targets and monthly tonnage as historical unless corroborated by the NGO directly today.

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### Why P3 matters

Plastic water sachets—ubiquitous in West Africa due to affordability and refrigeration logistics—are a persistent urban pollutant. P3’s model tackles two issues at once:

1. Waste management gap: P3 organizes collection and sorting of water-sachet plastics scattered across Ouahigouya, diverting what would otherwise be burned or dumped—both damaging to air quality, soils, and livestock.
2. Women’s economic inclusion: P3 employs and trains young mothers facing precarious conditions, covering the full craft pipeline (washing, cutting, stitching, weaving, creative design). The income helps fund schooling and healthcare for dependents, while monthly meetings give women a participatory voice in project decisions.

This approach exemplifies circular economy principles—extending material life, localizing value-add, and building skills—rather than treating waste as an export or landfill problem. The movementfrance.com project pages describe additional facilities (sewing, melting, weaving, creative labs) and public awareness-raising via installed collection bins.

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### On-the-ground context you should know

– Security & humanitarian backdrop: Northern and north-western Burkina Faso have faced conflict-driven displacement and service disruptions in recent years. Several international NGOs note that these regions remain high-need, which can affect mobility, programming, and supply chains. If you plan to visit or support locally, coordinate directly with the project for current conditions.
– Status of facilities: The project’s intention (announced in 2019) to build CARPO—an artisanal recycling center using vault-and-dome techniques and photovoltaic power—was forward-looking. Verify present-day operational status with Movement France before making assumptions about tours or volunteering.

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### How responsible travelers and readers can engage (verifiable channels)

– Buy ethically made items: Movement France operates an e-boutique showcasing P3 creations (sewing, weaving, “zéro déchet” accessories). Purchasing directly supports jobs for the artisans the project employs. Use the official site’s shop and contact details.
– Contact for up-to-date info: Movement France lists email and WhatsApp for inquiries (including wholesale orders or project questions). Reach out to confirm current activities, artisan capacity, and any visit logistics.
– Find the listing: If you’re mapping or verifying, the Plus Code GJP8+F5C entry for “Association P3, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso” appears in business directories and links back to Movement France. Again, treat third-party directory ratings as volatile.

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### What you’ll observe if you visit (subject to confirmation)

P3 describes an integrated craft pipeline:

– Collection & sorting: Community actions gather discarded sachets; the WGC dossier notes ~300 kg/month under mobilization efforts.
– Cleaning & preparation: Photos and captions on the project page depict washing and drying workflows to ready plastic for sewing or weaving.
– Production labs: The initiative highlights multiple ateliers—sewing, melting, weaving, and a creative studio—transforming waste into durable bags, pouches, and accessories marketed locally and abroad.
– Public awareness: The team reports installing dedicated bins around the agglomeration to reduce litter and improve separation at source.

> Inclusivity lens: P3 explicitly targets young mothers in precarious situations, offering flexible hours and shared governance through monthly participatory meetings. This is not a cosmetic add-on—it’s built into project design and documented in the WGC write-up.

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### Practical notes for readers

– Don’t rely on past metrics without checking. The “22 women employed” and “40 jobs by 2020” references are from 2019 sources and may have changed. Confirm numbers before citing, donating, or planning a feature story.
– Confirm accessibility and safety. Northern Burkina Faso’s humanitarian and security context can shift. Coordinate timing, routes, and permissions with project staff; avoid unannounced drop-ins.
– Use official channels. For purchases, tours, or press queries, start with Movement France’s site and contact block; they actively publish updates and newsletters (e.g., 2024 posts).

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### Summary you can quote

Association P3 in Ouahigouya is a women-driven circular-economy project that collects and upcycles water-sachet plastics into marketable goods while creating paid work and training for local women. The project’s own and partner documentation cite 22 women employed, community actions around ~300 kg/month plastic collection, and an announced artisanal recycling center designed with natural-material vault-and-dome architecture and solar power. Treat those figures as historical (2019) and re-verify via Movement France for anything time-sensitive.

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### Sources
– Women & Gender Constituency – “P3: Women’s entrepreneurship and traditional know-how help recycle plastic and stop pollution in Ouahigouya” (2019 honoree profile; impact figures and CARPO plan).
– Movement France – Project hub and P3 page (mission, ateliers, contact, e-boutique, plus contextual photos and 2024 updates on the site).
– Cybo business directory – Listing for “Association P3, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso” with Plus Code GJP8+F5C and link to official site (use for geocoding cross-check; treat ratings as dynamic).
– ZOA International – Burkina Faso country page (regional humanitarian/security context affecting northern areas including Ouahigouya).

All figures and claims above are limited to what is explicitly stated in the cited sources; targets and counts may have changed since publication.

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