Gemfair

What is GemFair?

We’re redefining the narrative around artisanal mining. Through our pioneering initiative, GemFair, we’re proving that artisanal and small-scale mining can be a force for good. Sourced directly from artisanal diamond miners, GemFair diamonds are ethically mined, expertly traced with bespoke technology, and supported by a dedicated local team on the ground.

Built on the highest standards of best practice, GemFair ensures that miners are treated with dignity, receive fair value for their work, and are empowered to drive sustainable development in their communities. This is more than a diamond—it’s a story of progress, transparency, and positive impact.

Our Promise

TRACEABILITY

Creating a digital record of the diamonds found at participating artisanal mine sites.

EMPOWERMENT

GemFair provides training to miners on safer and more environmentally responsible mining standards. Miners also have access to tutorials prepared by leading diamond experts.

FAIR VALUE

Miners receive fair value for their diamonds.

INCLUSION

Opening our doors to as many artisanal miners as possible, so they can continue their journey to improve mining standards.

Our 4 Pillars

We harness the power of technology to uphold the integrity of the diamond supply chain. Our bespoke digital toolkit—comprising both hardware and software—enables full traceability of diamonds from mine site to point of export.

Each toolkit includes a tablet equipped with the GemFair app, alongside a diamond scale, hand loupe and a ruler. This integrated solution empowers artisanal miners to log their diamonds in our bespoke app, while gaining valuable insights into diamond evaluation and categorisation.

Beyond supporting miners, the system plays a vital role in GemFair’s onboarding and due diligence process. It enables our field team to verify that new members meet the rigorous standards required to sell to GemFair, and to monitor each site’s progress.

GemFair’s ASM Standard is built on a foundation of globally recognised best practice standards for ethical sourcing from the sector.

But our approach goes beyond theory. We field-tested the standard directly with mining communities, refining it to reflect the realities on the ground and the unique nature of our business model. This ensures that our standards are not only rigorous, but also practical and inclusive.

With our mine site reclamation and farming programme, we are supporting job creation for artisanal miners and their families. By working hand-in-hand with artisanal diamond miners and their families, we are turning abandoned mine sites—often hazardous and environmentally degraded—into safe, productive land.

Through hands-on training, miners learn efficient reclamation techniques and climate-smart farming practices, including soil enrichment to enhance productivity and sustainability.This initiative not only improves environmental outcomes but also supports long-term job creation and food security—empowering communities to thrive beyond mining.

GemFair’s Forward Purchase Agreement programme is designed to address one of the most pressing challenges faced by artisanal diamond miners: access to fair and sustainable finance. This innovative mechanism enables miners within the GemFair programme to secure funding for their operations—without incurring debt, in exchange for the right to forward purchase diamond production from the funded area.

This collaborative model creates a mutually beneficial partnership. Miners gain access to essential financing, while GemFair is able to positively influence working conditions and business practices—supporting miners on their journey toward formalisation and continuous improvement.

Many in this sector are not realising the full value of their labour. Although the task is challenging, GemFair believes the artisanal mining sector should be recognised and included in international trade in order to foster its development and support the raising of standards. The aim of GemFair is to support the sector’s drive for formalisation and contribute to its development. GemFair forms an important part of De Beers Group’s sustainability commitment to create scalable solutions to raise livelihoods of artisanal miners by 2030. See our Building Forever 2030 Goals for more information.

Yes. GemFair was established by De Beers Group to support the formalisation of the ASM sector by building an inclusive programme to raise standards, capture fair value and trace artisanally mined diamonds from the mine onward. GemFair uses digital technology to trace ASM diamonds from the time they are discovered at the mine site and requires all participating sites to meet minimum operating and ethical standards aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals.

GemFair is focusing exclusively on diamonds for the time being. However, with minor tweaks to the software and the GemFair ASM Standard, the solution could potentially be used for other minerals in the future.

GemFair has developed a Responsible ASM Assurance Programme that sets out ethical working standards for miners selling into the programme - as well as details of how we support the attainment of these requirements. The Programme is aligned with with the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains and incorporates progressive improvement best practice approaches on fair labour practices, health and safety and environmental impact management. More information can be found here.

GemFair delivers provenance and transparency for ethically mined artisanal diamonds.

We do this through our bespoke digital solution.

Our solution is comprised of: A bespoke diamond logging App; a dedicated tablet supported by a diamond valuation toolkit; tamper proof QR coded bags; and diamond surface scanning technology at the buying office that creates a digital fingerprint of the diamonds we purchase; recording GemFair diamonds on De Beers Group’s Tracr blockchain platform.

Using a combination of these technologies GemFair provides a verifiable story to our customers that links the diamonds they buy to the positive impact generated through the GemFair programme.

GemFair was established in 2018 and has since focussed on piloting an approach to source ethical artisanal diamonds at scale from the country. We are now expanding this model to new regions in Sierra Leone and beyond.

The majority of ASM sites in Kono are abandoned at the completion of mining activity without any backfilling. This practice means deep pits are left in the ground which poses a safety risk, serves as a breeding ground for water-borne diseases and represents a waste of productive land. That’s why, since 2020, we have been working with communities to reclaim former mine sites and convert them into farmland, providing jobs and crucial food for families in Kono.

GemFair provides selected members access to finance through our Forward Purchase Agreement (FPA) programme. In consultation with miners we identified that there was a lack of fair, formal and transparent financing options available – the initiative was established in response to this. In short, FPA beneficiaries receive funding to cover all of their financing needs for a defined work cycle: capital inputs, labour and consumables. When miners find diamonds that must sell them to GemFair. At the point of sale a proportion of the value of the diamond is retained by GemFair to cover the forwarded monies. If, at the end of the work cycle, the forward sum is not paid in full through the discovery of diamonds the balance is zeroed, thereby taking the risk out of mining for our beneficiaries.

Building a path forward for artisanal diamond miners by raising standards and supporting livelihoods.

Building a path forward for artisanal diamond miners by raising standards and supporting livelihoods.

Building a path forward for artisanal diamond miners by raising standards and supporting livelihoods.

Building a path forward for artisanal diamond miners by raising standards and supporting livelihoods.

Building a path forward for artisanal diamond miners by raising standards and supporting livelihoods.

What is GemFair?

Our Promise

Our 4 Pillars

Why is GemFair engaging with artisanal diamond mining?

Is GemFair a De Beers Group Initiative?

Does GemFair also trace other minerals, such as gemstones and gold?

What kinds of standards do you require your diamond suppliers to meet?

Tell me about your digital solution.

Where does GemFair operate?

How does GemFair support responsible environmental practices?

Tell me about your access to finance programme?