Grants for Africa's artisanal diamond diggers



The Board of Directors of the Diamond Development Initiative, an American-based charitable organization committed to improving the lives of Africa's artisanal diamond diggers, has announced the receipt of two significant grants.

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has provided a two-year grant to the organization totaling approximately US$436,000 (€307,000). Tiffany & Co. Foundation also announced the decision to provide DDI with a two-year grant for US$325,000.

The start-up grants will enable the organization to sustain itself as well as fund key projects aimed at supporting artisanal diamond producers in developing countries. DDI intends to address the needs of the African diamond diggers and their families through coordinating the efforts of various NGO's, governments and businesses. The aim is to leverage diamonds as a means to develop and alleviate poverty.

Ian Smillie, Board Chair of the DDI commented, "These two grants are extremely important to the DDI. The Government of Sweden and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation have demonstrated understanding and great confidence in providing the core support that is essential to any new initiative, and their additional support for project work in Africa will allow us to build on some of the exciting work we have already started."