Grand-Bassam Plastic Reduction Initiative

Green-Ivory

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

Green-Ivory is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2017 and based in Côte d’Ivoire. It works to protect the environment by taking action against plastic pollution, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Its actions focus mainly on environmental education for young people and children and the promotion of green jobs. It is run by an experienced, dynamic team who are passionate about environmental issues.

Green-Ivory’s mission is to equip young people to respond to environmental challenges (climate change, plastic pollution and loss of biodiversity), while facilitating their access to opportunities linked to the ecological transition.

Through our educational approach, Green Ivory aims to inspire and support young people in taking initiatives to combat the triple environmental crisis, with a view to making a real local impact and improving the living conditions of young people.
We believe in the potential of young people, who, given the right support, have the ability to take action to protect our planet.

Country Information

In Côte d’Ivoire, plastic pollution significantly impacts terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Annually, thousands of tonnes of plastic waste contaminate beaches, lagoons, and coastal areas, threatening marine biodiversity and affecting coastal communities reliant on fishing and tourism.

Pollution Magnitude: Côte d’Ivoire contributes notably to global plastic marine pollution, though exact figures are hard to determine.

Impact on Marine Life: Marine animals ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, leading to injury or death.

Economic Impact: Plastic pollution harms fishing and tourism industries by damaging equipment, reducing catch quality, and deterring tourists.

Environmental Degradation: Plastics persist for centuries, degrading landscapes and leaching harmful chemicals into soil and water.

Government and NGO Efforts: The government and NGOs are working on waste management, public awareness, and policy measures to reduce plastic use and improve recycling.

Addressing plastic pollution in Côte d’Ivoire requires coordinated local and national efforts to mitigate its extensive environmental, economic, and social impacts.

The Need

This project aims to address the social issue of plastic pollution’s impact on ecosystems, affecting both current and future generations who rely on these environments for their daily needs and sustainability. There is a pressing need for improved plastic waste management and viable alternatives in communities affected by plastic pollution in Côte d’Ivoire, which this project seeks to address effectively.

The Project We Fund

Plastic Free Days is a three-year initiative by Green Ivory targeting plastic pollution in five Côte d’Ivoire cities. In its first year, from June 2024 to May 2025 in Grand-Bassam, the program aims to:

1. Raise awareness about plastic pollution and best practices among 1 million people: Recruiting 20 Young Ambassadors: Train 20 young people on plastic pollution and mitigation practices to become key advocates in awareness campaigns. They will assist in major clean-up events and help develop local and national advocacy for innovative solutions.

2. Create 10 permanent plastic waste collection jobs: Train 10 professional waste collectors, who will engage in regular cleaning and awareness efforts. They will receive a monthly salary and have the chance to join Green Ivory’s Sentiers Verts program for business funding opportunities.

3. Organize major monthly plastic waste collection events: Launching a Plastic Pollution Awareness Campaign: A digital campaign will run throughout the “Plastic Free Days” project to educate and mobilize the public on plastic recycling, encouraging them to keep plastic waste for clean-up days.

4. Recycle 100% of collected plastic by partnering with local recycling companies: Host a clean-up day every two months with community engagement and collaboration. These events will be festive and invite people and businesses to drop off plastic waste and participate in a fun, educational way

5. Secure a commitment from a major city to adopt alternatives to single-use plastics: Advocating for Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics: Engage local decision-makers to promote alternatives to single-use plastics and encourage sustainable policies at the local level.

Providing Recyclable Plastic Waste to Local Businesses: Supply 50% of collected waste to green jobs in the circular economy and ensure 100% of the waste is recycled to maximize resource use.

The Result

To measure the impact of the Plastic Free Days project, the team will use the following methods:

1. Awareness Campaign Metrics: Track reach and engagement through social media, website visits, event attendance, and media coverage. Surveys will assess changes in knowledge and attitudes about plastic pollution.

2. Job Creation: Monitor the number of permanent collection jobs created via regular reports from partners or direct updates from employees.

3. Plastic Waste Collection Events: Measure the success of monthly clean-up events by quantifying the amount of plastic waste collected, either by weight or volume estimates.

4. Recycling Rate: Ensure 100% recycling by partnering with local recyclers and tracking the amount of waste recycled versus collected. Regular updates from recycling partners will ensure transparency.

5. City Commitments: Document and track formal commitments from cities to adopt alternatives to single-use plastics and monitor progress through reviews of city policies and initiatives.