Diamond Development Initiative International and the Responsible Jewellery Council announced they are partnering to advance both organizations’ social objectives regarding artisanal diamond production.

“Worldwide, some 1.5 million individuals are artisanal diamond miners,” said DDII executive director Dorothée Gizenga in a statement. “They and their families will benefit from the improved working conditions and standards that are DDII’s objectives, objectives that will be enhanced by our collaboration with the Responsible Jewellery Council.”

The memorandum of understanding between the two groups focuses on improving social, environmental, labor practices, and good governance in the artisanal diamond mining sector. It also looks to advance relationships between large-scale and artisanal diamond mining, as well as increase market access for jewelry raw materials produced by artisanal diamond mining communities.

JCK