How to ensure an ethical and low-risk supply chain when buying diamonds ? The case of South Africa

This thesis is an analysis of the diamond supply chain from South Africa to Belgium. It aims at establishing propositions to ensure ethics and low risk when buying in emerging markets. During the first part, this work presents the economic and geopolitical axes of the diamond trade from South Africa; and develops the measures taken in this country to ensure the ethical nature of the business. In a second part, elements of the literature are reviewed in term of supply chain risk management and integration of CSR in supply chains. In the third part, the third chapter explained the methodological framework chosen for the establishment of the sample, the data collection and the data analysis. Hence interviews were led towards actors directly involved in the diamond trade from South Africa to Belgium. The fourth chapter is dedicated to highlight supply chain risk management and CSR strategies implemented in each of the interviewed companies. Finally, the fifth chapter aims at crossing the findings of the single case analysis in order to establish propositions that allow answering the initial research question. This master thesis establishes nine propositions relevant in the field of low risk-and ethics in supply chains. However, the propositions come from observation and qualitative study of four companies, so the propositions developed in the paper are only hypothetically correct. In fact, further studies encompassing a larger number of interviews could lead to confirmation, modification or rejection of some of those propositions. Nevertheless, these propositions represent insights for managers and academicians willing to discuss the question of sourcing for diamonds in South Africa. The thesis ends by opening door to further developments or studies that could be led on the subject.Master [120] en sciences de gestion, Université catholique de Louvain, 201