URBAN ECOLOGY
An integrated plan to improve the hygienic and environmental conditions of Ayamé
The actions undertaken at the hospital and local dispensaries to improve the population’s health are insufficient if the hygienic conditions of the surrounding area are not addressed.
In 2004, a close collaboration began with the Order of Engineers of Pavia to assess the situation and propose an environmental remediation plan for the entire area.
In 2005, the Urban Ecology project was launched, focusing on three main areas of intervention:
SEWAGE COLLECTION NETWORK
The project, carried out between 2006 and 2012, involved the progressive design and construction of the entire sewage collection and conveyance network for the town. A dedicated team of hydraulic engineers from Pavia, assisted by an Italian technician who had lived in Ayamé for many years, completed the work entirely funded by the Agency. In parallel with the extension of the sewer network, a team of local maintenance personnel was trained to ensure its continuous operation. The service is now fully managed by the municipality.
The final component of the project was the construction in 2015 of a sewage pumping station capable of supporting further network expansion toward a potential downstream wastewater treatment plant.
REGULATION OF THE ANASSOUÉ TORRENT
The small watercourse that runs through the entire town is subject to rare but dangerous floods, which have caused serious damage and casualties. A theoretical study carried out back in 2005 was followed by actions to clear the riverbed, which improved but did not completely solve the problem. After a major flood in 2019, an effective flood simulation model for the stream was developed, along with related projects aimed at solving the issue.
URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management, which was previously very approximate or practically nonexistent, is one of the major critical issues in African urban areas. Ayamé is no exception, facing serious public hygiene problems due to an almost non-existent waste management system.
In 2015, the pilot project “Waste as a Resource for Ayamé” was launched. With a relatively modest budget, a system for separate collection of dry and organic waste was designed and implemented. The waste is delivered to an ecological platform equipped for separation and recycling, with the production of compost.
The project expanded successfully until 2020, covering a sample area of the city and engaging the interest of a local environmental group, “les amis de l’environnement” (friends of the environment). The compost is used in horticulture, and part of the waste (particularly metals) is sold.
The full transfer of management to the municipality later encountered unexpected difficulties, and limited support during the COVID period slowed the project’s expansion, which is now awaiting a new phase of relaunch.
