Name: De Beers

Industry: Consumer Products

Project Summary: Cultural audit project across Namibian diamond mines on behalf of DeBeers and the Namibian Government.

Business Issue: PTI was engaged by the Namibian Government and DeBeers joint-venture company, NamDeb, to conduct a survey-based cultural audit project to assess the impact of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) within Namibian diamond mines.

PTI Action: The project was primarily centered on a bespoke survey designed and deployed by PTI in conjunction with both the government of Namibia and DeBeers. This project was perhaps our most challenging survey project in terms of scale and complexity, as we were charged with designing and delivering a cultural audit to engage respondents from 12 different Namibian tribes; The Owambo, The Kavango, The Herero, The Nama, The Europeans, The Caprivians, The Rehoboth Basters, The Bushmen, The Himba, The Topnaars, The Coloureds and The Tswanas, who speak 9 different languages (English, Afrikaans, German, Portuguese, Spanish and French, along with the local languages of Oshivambo, Herero and Nama). The project involved DeBeers employees across the entire spectrum of seniority, from the Chief Executive to mine workers.

Business Result: DeBeers Namibia was left with a highly detailed picture of the cultural challenges faced by different tribes and ethnic groups within its organisation, as well as other gender and disability-related issues. PTI's audit work was used to build the NamDeb approach to diversity and equality and to set representation targets as part of its overall corporate strategy work for 2004-2010.