Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project an initiative of The Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Org

KPAP is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based out of Boulder, Colorado in the United States. IMEC instituted the Partner for Responsible Travel Program to recognize climbing companies with responsible treatment practices. KPAP monitors the company’s treatment practices to determine if a company is meeting the proper treatment guidelines. Monitoring activities take place year-round and include: Porter Questionnaires and Interviews Examination of partner company’s salary distribution methods Review of partner company’s tipping procedure Audit and reporting by a KPAP porter investigative porter on all partner company climbs Providing feedback and suggestions for improvements KPAP educates climbers with fundamental information concerning proper porter treatment and advocates climbers to make an informed decision in choosing a socially responsible climbing company. The Partner for Responsible Travel Program has proven to be instrumental in facilitating improvements of porter treatment on Mount Kilimanjaro. KPAP collects seasonal data on porter treatment including porter wages, tipping, bag weight, food provision and tent accommodation. This data is reported annually to Tanzanian government authorities and tour operator associations as well as companies participating with the Partner for Responsible Travel Program. Please refer to the Our Impact page for a summary of this information.