The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) said it had received another significant contribution from the De Beers Group of Companies in support of its efforts to promote responsible production and improve the lives and conditions of artisanal diamond miners and their families. The quantum of funding was not mentioned.

The grant is in continuation of the support being given to DDI by the De Beers Group since 2008.

Programmes taken up by DDI to ensure sustainable economic and social development in the areas where it works include miner registration, mining cooperatives, Maendeleo Diamond Standards for miner’s rights and responsible production, mobile schooling in mining communities and professional development for miners.

Dorothée Gizenga, Executive Director of DDI, said that the ongoing funding from De Beers enables DDI to ensure the sustainability of its programming. “Our objective is to contribute to the formalization of the artisanal and small-scale diamond sector. This does not happen overnight, or in a month or a year. Faithful partners like De Beers make it possible for us to take the long term view.”

Feriel Zerouki, Head of Government and Industry Relations, De Beers Group, said: “Through our relationship with DDI we have the opportunity to support artisanal diamond diggers and their communities and to contribute to improvements in the sector. Any benefit to artisanal miners is a benefit to all of us.”