WACREN is proud to spotlight the remarkable achievement of Rasmata Simporé, a young researcher from Burkina Faso, whose innovation is set to transform the way urban waste is managed in her country. Her waste management innovation, the Trash App, was inspired and shaped in part by her participation in the Women-in-WACREN (WiW) workshop held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 2024.

 

Rasmata Simporé, then a student at the Doctoral School of Computer Science Applied to Climate Change at Joseph KI-ZERBO University, attended the workshop with a passion for developing solutions that address both environmental and public health challenges. Inspired by real-world examples and mentorship, Rasmata began developing an intelligent waste collection system that integrates mobile, web, and IoT technologies to improve waste management and sanitation in Ouagadougou and beyond.

 

Her solution, Trash App, comprises a mobile app for citizens to report waste issues and request services, a web dashboard for decision-makers and waste management operators, and smart sensors installed in waste bins that transmit real-time data on bin location and fill levels, enabling optimised waste collection routes. The app enhances communication between citizens and waste collectors, increases transparency, and provides policymakers with valuable data to improve urban sanitation strategies.

 

This innovation, developed as part of her master’s thesis, has been described as a true ecosystem of smart solutions, with the potential to transform sanitation efforts and empower communities to engage in environmental preservation.

 

The Ouagadougou City Council has also expressed strong interest in piloting the project in select urban zones, a testament to the project’s promise in tackling sanitation-related health issues.

 

At WACREN, Rasmata’s story affirms the value of intentional investments in gender equity, practical capacity building, and regional collaboration. Through the Women in WACREN, WACREN continues to equip women researchers and innovators with the tools, networks, and confidence to lead change in their fields and communities.

Rasmata’s journey is a shining example of how regional research and education networks can drive innovation, inclusivity, and impact through women’s empowerment.

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