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Partnering with GIZ and Mano River Union to deliver training on mining standards in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast

GemFair, a De Beers Group initiative to advance the artisanal and small-scale diamond mining (ASM) sector, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Mano River Union (MRU) to develop and deliver a capacity building programme in the MRU member countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast to enhance practices in the ASM sector.

The three parties will jointly deliver a regional training programme that aims to enhance capacities, promote knowledge sharing and build a comprehensive understanding of mine site health and safety, environmental management, ethical sourcing standards and diamond valuation among participants, who will include miners, government officials and civil society activists in the four countries.

The training will be designed to support implementation of the Regional Approach of the Kimberly Process, enhance knowledge of OECD requirements and introduce safer and more environmentally friendly mining techniques for artisanal miners in the MRU region.

The initiative is part of GIZ’s Regional Resource Governance Program, which it implements on behalf of the German Development Corporation (through the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development) and the European Union. The MRU is the main programme partner regarding regional activities in artisanal and small-scale mining and the trade of gold and diamonds in the MRU region, while GemFair will design the training curricula and provide staff and expertise to deliver the training.

Feriel Zerouki, Senior Vice-President International Relations and Ethical Initiatives, De Beers Group and General Manager, GemFair, said: “GemFair is committed to helping advance the ASM sector and one of the critical first steps is to enhance capacities to raise standards across the sector. We are pleased to be partnering with GIZ and MRU on this ambitious training programme and look forward to sharing our knowledge and providing our training expertise in the areas of ethical mining practices, responsible sourcing and diamond valuation to more stakeholders in the West Africa region.”

Medina Wesseh, Secretary General of Mano River Union said: “The Regional Approach to the Kimberley Process, artisanal and small-scale mining and the fight against precious mineral smuggling in the Mano River Union sub-region is producing important positive results on the management of the artisanal mining sector, for the benefit of the four MRU member states. The signed MoU is one of the high points in the implementation of the project, as the objective is to improve the capacities of the stakeholders, knowing that the results from improved capacities are good practices, more efficient management of the sector, better results and increased positive impacts. The sub-region’s artisanal mining sector, if effectively managed, can be a growth engine as it is an important niche to improve state revenues, enhance development of communities, and therefore reduce poverty at the grassroots level”.

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About the Mano River Union

The Mano River Union (MRU), is a West African Intergovernmental Organization, created in October 1973 in Malema, Sierra Leone, grouping Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire with the Headquarter in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The mandate given to the organization by the Heads of State, since May 2008, is to promote the sub region development, maintain the peace and security and foster the socioeconomic integration of its member states. The institution is headed by a General Secretariat, in charge of executing the mandate, under the control of the Union Ministerial Council and the overall directives of the Summit of Heads of State, to both the Secretariat report. To fulfil its mandate, the MRU has the duty to deal with all common challenges and other issues of regional interest. In this regard, MRU is to initiate, promote, develop, coordinate and monitor regional projects and programmes.

About the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government and many public and private sector clients in around 120 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation. With this aim, GIZ works together with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

About GemFair

GemFair SL Ltd, is a company incorporated in Sierra Leone and a wholly owned subsidiary of De Beers United Kingdom Ltd., which was established on 28th February 2018 with the goal to support the formalisation of the ASM sector by raising standards, delivering fair value and tracing the diamonds that artisanal miners recover from the mine onward. GemFair uses digital technology to trace ASM diamonds from the time they are discovered at the mine site and requires all participating sites to meet minimum operating and ethical standards aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals. Ultimately, GemFair is focused on creating equal opportunities, and supporting the formalisation of the ASM sector.

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of the De Beers Group strategy as it develops its portfolio of brands, including De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions, such as recently launched diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives GemFair and Tracr. De Beers Group employees are committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – one that is fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier; where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; and where communities thrive and the environment is protected. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.