Background

A Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Program is being designed to assess the impact of RJC Certification.  An M&E Program Plan is regularly updated to meet the requirements of the ISEAL Impacts Code, 2010.

The objectives of RJC’s M&E program are to:

• Improve the RJC Certification system and its effectiveness in achieving its stated social, environmental and economic objectives;
• Build capacity by learning from experience, not only for the RJC as an institution, but also for Members, Auditors and stakeholders;
• Inform strategy regarding policy decisions;
• Provide accountability to Members, consumers, civil society and towards those who are affected by, and those who are meant to benefit from, the activities of standards systems;
• Earn credibility through willingness to be open about the results (good or bad) of the RJC Certification system; and
• Enhance societal learning by feeding results into the standards landscape to understand the cumulative impacts of voluntary standards systems.  (Adapted from ISEAL Impacts Code, 2010).

Long-term goals and desired impacts

The long term goals and desired impacts are set out by the RJC Mission and the RJC’s Theory of Change, as set out below.

RJC Mission:

To advance responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, which respect human rights, throughout the diamond, gold and platinum group metals jewellery supply chain, from mine to retail.

RJC Certification results in improvements to RJC Members’ management systems and business practices, leading to improvements to their own social and environmental performance, and providing assurance to stakeholders that responsible business practices are being followed. These outcomes will have a beneficial effect on underlying social, human rights, ethical and environmental conditions found within the jewellery supply chain in general, providing positive impacts for workers, communities, business partners, the environment and broader stakeholders. These impacts will increase through continuing growth of Certified Members of the RJC, supported by the ‘role model’ effect of RJC Certification that demonstrates and promotes responsible practices to other industry participants.

The RJC aims to encourage and help as many businesses as possible in the jewellery supply chain to  become certified against the Code of Practices, regardless of what conditions may have been present for those businesses prior to certification.  This approach is based on the premise that the greatest opportunities for aggregate positive change to social, human rights, ethical and environmental conditions in the jewellery supply chain can be realized through widespread compliance with an international standard for responsible business practices.

The RJC therefore certifies businesses even though they have non-conformances (providing there is no critical breach), and all non-conformances must be addressed through corrective action plans approved by the auditor.  The key is to bring about improvement from conditions that would otherwise be present, to the level of performance required by the standard.

Monthly reporting

A Monthly Indicators Report (MIR) is published which draws on internal data logging and reporting procedures.

The MIR is intended to publicly report each month on selected quantitative indicators for the RJC’s Supporting Strategies:

• Growth in RJC Membership
• Estimated Annual Sales of Commercial Members
• Increase in RJC Certifications
• Accredited Auditors
• Training participation
• Complaints Mechanism processes

Click here for the latest Monthly Indicators Report.

Minor Non-Conformances of RJC Members

RJC Certifications grew rapidly in 2011 as the first deadline for existing Members approached. The year opened with 5 Certified Members and by year’s end there were 120, with numbers continuing to grow in 2012.  Each Certified Member has been independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices.

RJC is analysing the frequency of non-conformances according to the respective provisions of the Code of Practices and working on further training and briefings for Members on these issues, to help support Members’ own corrective actions before their next scheduled audit.  Further detail will be posted here when available.

RJC will continue to review collected data as part of its M&E Plan.

Comments and feedback are welcome to: consultation@responsiblejewellery.com

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