Farm fresh eggs under the Congo sun Partners will set up joint venture company to start a farm near Kinkole just east of Kinshasa. On this farm they will have 30,000 barn chicken producing 6 million eggs per year for the Kinshasa market. Also, they will set up a training facility to train local farmers and provide them with ten weeks old chicken and feed.Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR)In regard to product quality and animal welfare, it is an advantage of this project that they will introduce barn chicken instead of battery cages and that they will work according to Dutch IKB standards.Partners also intend to be at the forefront on employment standards, workplace health and safety and other human resources issues.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will ensure good workplace health and safety, pay living wages, and a range of fringe benefits including medical services, pension and savings schedule, transport, meals, childcare, grants for school fees, free eggs.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe project will introduce on egg printing in DR Congo, data like the date of lay and the name of the brand will be printed on the eggs, so consumers can recognise the eggs as fresh. Locally, the project will set an example by keeping barn chicken instead of battery cages. Regulations of the Dutch certification IKB Ei will be followed, this is the major quality and supply chain management system in the Netherlands.•	Chain effectsThe project will source a substantial part of feed ingredients locally, although premixes will be sourced as well from the Netherlands.Day-old chicks will be sourced from Poussin Gertrude in neighbouring Congo Brazzaville (third partner has a 30% share).The project will supply locally produced fresh eggs of high quality. Eggs are one of the cheapest sources of animal proteins, important for many consumers in DR Congo who can't afford to eat meat on a regular basis.•	Impact on the sectorThe project will not directly employ vendors but they will be trained by the project and have a stable source of income. The same applies to small farmers trained during the project, who will be able to buy feed and 10 week old chicken from the farm.Although these smallholders will certainly be able to professionalise compared to other smallholders, their products will not be sold by the joint venture, as the joint venture will not be able to guarantee the same quality of eggs as produced by the project farm (IKB standards).•	EnvironmentThe project will put a serious effort in reducing negative environmental aspects of poultry farming by minimising odour and manure problems. Energy will be provided by solar panels. Last but not least European animal welfare standards will be introduced in DR Congo.•	Position of womenThe project will almost exclusively employ women. The applicant is already active with a foundation in Kinshasa that helps teenage mothers and victims of sexual violence. The project will support women’s career planning and provide child care facilities.•	Impact on food safetyThe project will supply fresh eggs and train small farmers to improve their operations. Eggs are of the most cost efficient sources of animal proteins. The availability of eggs is therefore important in reducing malnourishment, a serious problem in DR Congo. Setting up a modern farm with a capacity of 30,000 layer chickens, producing 6 million eggs for the Kinshasa market and a demonstration centre for the training of local farmers to whom also 10 weeks old chickens will be sold.