“This Policy Brief summarizes a report
entitled ‘The Dynamics of Diamond
Pricing and Marketing in Sierra Leone’.
It also describes some of the policy
implications for government, donor
agencies and development organizations
arising from the report.
The report describes the reality – and
the incredible complexity – of the
largely informal diamond-buying network
in Sierra Leone, and the wide
range of players involved. It describes
a system that thrives because it is
based to a large extent on secrecy,
favours, trust and mistrust, dependency
and disinformation. Many of those
in and around the diamond pipeline do
not know the true value of their product,
and are therefore vulnerable to
unfair exploitation. It is a system
where very few rules apply, where
product knowledge is limited, and
where many influences and considerations
interact to form a complex web of
activity.”
