Boyoma Ecolodge The Wasmoeth Wildlife Foundation is building a chimpanzee sanctuary on the Boyoma Island in the Congo river, in order to nurse and protect orphan and injured chimpanzees that often are the victim of poaching. The sanctuary offers the unique possibility to attract tourists to this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).This project concerns the construction and exploitation of an Eco lodge on the same island.The applicant in this project is Wasmoeth Beheer B.V.. Their sole purpose is to invest all profits in wildlife projects selected by The Wasmoeth Wildlife Foundation. The local partner is a transport company called Transport Routier Du Congo SPRL that has been Mr Wasmoeth's main contact in DR Congo since 2004. They share the same concern for DR Congo's natural treasures and as such jointly invest in setting up a luxury eco-lodge on the Boyoma island, near the city of Kisangani.The partners will establish a separate entity for the eco-lodge as 'association sans but lucratif' (a.s.b.l.). This means they are required by law to re-invest all profits into the eco-lodge and the chimpanzee sanctuary.This project will be the first eco resort in DR Congo, and it will support the first chimpanzee sanctuary in the country. As tourism is hardly developed in DR Congo, this may spark the first tourists to come to the country after a long time of war and conflict.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The whole business concept is set up around environmental sustainability, ecological conservancy, wildlife protection and capacity building of the local community. A CSR policy will be developed elaborating on labour standards, including employee participation, secondary working conditions, health and safety of employees, the environment, rights of local population, chain responsibility, human rights, corruption and corporate social involvement. Furthermore, the Ecotourism Association of Ethiopia will certify the lodge.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will provide employment to 38 people in total, 25 of which will be basic qualified and 13 medium/high. Two years after the project has finished, a total of 57 people will be employed (NB: this is exclusive of the employment created at the sanctuary and the schools).The lowest paid employee will receive USD 150 per month, before taxes. This is conform minimum wages in DR Congo. However, on top of this salary an extra transport allowance will be paid of USD 45 on average, a 5% surcharge for medical costs and another 15% for social benefits.Last of all, meals will be provided to employees on duty and training and education will be provided in line with individual qualifications, needs and abilities.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe projects will transfer three types of knowledge:- Knowledge about ecotourism.- Managing and operating a high class tourist lodge.- Knowledge about wildlife, the ecosystem, biodiversity and protection of it.This knowledge will be transferred to:- direct employees;- the local community;- guests of the resort and the sanctuary.•	Chain effectsFirst and foremost the chimpanzee sanctuary will benefit from this project as 25% of turnover will be donated to the sanctuary.Second, the local community will benefit as local farmers will be asked and guided (including training) to grow vegetables and fruits for both the eco-lodges and the sanctuary. Once the sanctuary is up and running, they will need 15 to 20 tons of fruits and vegetables on a monthly basis. For the lodge only, it is expected that 10 farmers will be delivering their produce on a continuous basis.These farmers will be contacted individually and the partners will discuss with them what they want to grow and what they are able to grow. Depending on their needs, they will assist the farmers, but the initiative needs to come from the farmers themselves.Third, the whole area will benefit from the investments that are made in the sanctuary and the lodge. The impact already started when the partners built a road, leading to the river banks. Then they built the first primary school in the region. The next step is to build a small clinic , a secondary school and a vocational training centre. It is The Wasmoeth Wildlife Foundation's intention to involve the whole community in the development of the Boyoma surroundings.•	EnvironmentWaste water will be treated and other waste will be disposed of properly. Water will come from the island's own water treatment facility, and electricity will partially come from solar panels and possibly hydro-energy as well. A student from the University of Amsterdam has made an inventory of all trees on the island, in order to save the most valuable ones.•	Position of womenThe partners strive to employ 67% women throughout the whole organisation. To establish a 24-bed eco resort on the Boyoma Island that allows the chimpanzee sanctuary to accommodate tourists interested in the sanctuary and the region in general, and to generate income in a commercially sustainable way.