SDGs, launched by the United Nations in 2015, were a universal set of targets and indicators varying from poverty eradication to environment protection.
It said in its diamond dialogues report issued during a diamond conference in Gaborone, Botswana that the first step would be to encourage all value chain partners to map, identify and actively manage their impact on the SDGs as well as determine future priorities.
“With its own operations, De Beers Group is building on this preliminary mapping via its annual materiality exercise to further map potentially negative impacts on the SDGs, so it can ensure they are mitigated,” it said.
“The company also aims to raise the level of dialogue on the SDGs by bringing different sectors together to discuss common issues, and by encouraging collaboration through events and publications.”
The group said SDGs provided a “compelling vision” of what it means to be a sustainable business, uniting all stakeholders to increase and accelerate the positive contribution diamonds can make to sustainable development.
De Beers was planning to invest $3 million to support female micro-entrepreneurs and STEM students in its diamond-producing countries.
It would also invest an additional $3 million in a three-year collaboration with Stanford Graduate School of Business to empower young, aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, from Gaborone, Botswana, Rough&Polished