PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ARTISANAL DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT II: QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT (JANURARY-MARCH 2016)

The program is implemented by Tetra Tech under a contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative focuses on four main activities: clarification of land and property rights, strengthening governance and internal controls, economic development in artisanal mining communities, and public awareness and outreach. In Côte d'Ivoire, the program has made significant progress in clarifying land and property rights. Activity 1: Clarification of Land and Property Rights has involved the delimitation of mining sites and the establishment of boundary markers. This has been achieved through the use of Google Earth Pro to identify boundary markers and the installation of beehives in cashew groves as part of a pilot program to test the impact of beekeeping on cashew tree productivity. The program has also made progress in strengthening governance and internal controls. Activity 2: Strengthening Governance and Internal Controls has involved the installation of a beehive in a cashew grove in February 2016 as part of a pilot program to test the impact of beekeeping on cashew tree productivity. Community focal points have been established at active mining sites to explain the KP system to local communities. In the Central African Republic, the program has provided institutional and technical assistance to the Central African authorities involved in the implementation of the Operational Framework of the Kimberley Process. This has involved the development of a data collection methodology and a system for managing production and marketing data for the implementation of the Operational Framework of the Kimberley Process. The program has also made progress in cross-cutting activities, including partnerships, gender strategy design and implementation, monitoring PRADD II performance, and impact evaluation. The program has established partnerships with local communities and organizations to promote the program's objectives. A gender strategy has been designed and implemented to promote the participation of women in the program. The program has also established a system for monitoring its performance and evaluating its impact. Overall, the PRADD II initiative has made significant progress in promoting property rights and artisanal diamond development in several countries in West Africa. The program has clarified land and property rights, strengthened governance and internal controls, promoted economic development in artisanal mining communities, and promoted public awareness and outreach.