Maendeleo Diamond Standards

A standard for artisanal mining operations that respect human rights, ensure health and safety, and protect the environmental

Over 40 million people are engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) of diamonds, gold, cobalt, gemstones and other minerals. There are 1.5 million artisanal diamond miners in Africa and South America, working in about 20 different countries. Up to 20% of the world’s gem-quality diamonds are produced by artisanal and/or small-scale artisanal miners who operate using only rudimentary equipment. The work is typically hard, dirty and dangerous. Miners often face exploitation, human rights abuses, and live in extreme poverty. Health conditions are a challenge for miners and their families, and mine sites can be incubators for disease.

The Maendeleo Diamond Standards (MDS) establish requirements adapted to the specific conditions of artisanal and small-scale diamond mining communities. Maendeleo is a Swahili word meaning development and progress. The standards apply to diamonds mined in conflict-free zones and produced safely with consenting and engaged communities. MDS operations are violence-free, respect human and worker rights, and follow practices that promote environmental responsibility.

Developed in consultation with diamond miners committed to improving their own practices, the standard is based on eight principles:

• legality;
• consent and community engagement;
• human and worker’s rights;
• health and safety;
• violence-free operations;
• environmental management;
• interactions with large-scale mining; and
• site closure.

The MDS certification system is more than a set of rules. It is a unique effort to bridge responsible diamond sector supply chains to protection of the fundamental rights of artisanal miners and their communities. The idea is not just better prices for artisanally mined diamonds, but a system of legalized mining operations that respect human rights, health and safety, and support environmental sustainability.