The Diamond Development Initiative has entered into a collaborative partnership with UL Consumer and Retail Services to strengthen the implementation and auditing of Maendeleo Diamond Standards (MDS), which were put in place by DDI to regulate artisanal mining operations.

UL is a global leader in testing, inspections, and responsible sourcing and one of the world’s largest providers of supply chain auditing and monitoring services, DDI said in a release.

According to the terms of this new agreement, UL will continue providing an annual pro bono review of the standards and any updates and revisions proposed by DDI. It will also develop materials and provide training to DDI staff on responsible sourcing and social auditing practices. In turn, DDI will use these resources to train its partner organizations and improve understanding of responsible sourcing practices in Sierra Leone and the DRC.

The MDS certification system is a unique effort to regulate artisanal diamond mining operations to ensure health and safety of miners, respect for human rights and sustainable environmental practices. Maendeleo is a Swahili word meaning “development” and “progress.”

MDS covers areas such as legality, consent and community engagement, health and safety, violence-free operations, environmental management, interactions with large-scale mining and site closure.

Following the auditing and certification process, the diamonds produced through MDS compliant operations could be integrated into existing responsible supply chains, providing artisanal miners with access to international markets and offering conscientious consumers a unique and ethical product, DDI stated.