RJC, DDII Sign Artisanal Diamond Production Cooperation Memorandum
November 16, 11
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The two agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding to also work cooperatively on enhanced relationships between large-scale and artisanal diamond mining as well as increasing market access for jewelry raw materials produced by artisanal diamond mining communities.
The MOU will formalize DDII’s and RJC’s collaboration on:
· Standards Harmonization: DDII and RJC will collaborate to ensure the standards and modalities of their respective certification initiatives are mutually supportive. To that end, RJC will provide input through membership of DDII’s Advisory Group and DDII will provide input through membership of RJC’s Consultative Panel, and subsequently through the RJC Standards Committee from 2012 onwards. DDII and RJC will collaborate to strengthen synergies between the RJC certification system and the Development Diamond Standards certification system, which DDII is developing.
· Develop Projects to support artisanal diamond miners: DDII and RJC will collaborate to develop projects to improve social, environmental and labor practices, and good governance in artisanal diamond mining. DDII and RJC will collaborate to recruit private, governmental and intergovernmental sponsors to fund such projects. DDII and RJC will collaborate to establish the modalities and financing of a support fund to assist artisanal diamond miners make the transition to become “formalized” and certified.
· Industry Outreach: DDII and RJC will collaborate to increase market awareness and support for jewelry raw materials sourced from well-managed artisanal diamond mining.
According to DDII’s Executive Director Dorothée Gizenga, some 1.5 million artisanal diamond miners and their families will benefit from the improved working conditions and standards that are DDII’s objectives.
RJC’s CEO Michael Rae said that by working together, DDII and RJC will reinforce their efforts to improve responsible business practices throughout the jewelry supply chain.