Mining and Minerals: Diamond Development Initiative (DDI)

In January 2006, FESS was invited to become a member of the Diamond Development Initiative(DDI) steering committee. DDI mission is to gather all interested parties into a process that will address, in a comprehensive way, the political, social and economic challenges facing the artisanal diamond mining sector in order to optimize the beneficial development impact of artisanal diamond mining to miners and their communities with the countries in which the diamonds are mined.

Their objective is to promote a better understanding of, and possible solutions for:

• Government regulation and mining regulations;
• Distribution and marketing channels;
• Legitimate and transparent distribution channels;
• Organization among artisanal miners;
• Free and open markets for artisanally mined diamonds
• Promote wide participation in the process including governments, donors, industry and development organizations.