The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)is an internationally recognized certification system for rough diamonds, establishing national import/export standards. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was fully implemented in August 2003. It creates transparency in the diamond industry and eliminates trade in conflict diamonds sold by rebel groups or their allies to fund conflict against legitimate governments.

Since the Certification of Sierra Leone diamonds, in 2003, the diamond export increased.

The KP has also brought large volumes of diamonds onto the legal market that would not otherwise have made it there. This has increased the revenues of poor governments, and helped them to address their countries’ development challenges.