Herizo (Zo) HARIMALALA TSIVERISOA Mentee Herizo (Zo) HARIMALALA TSIVERISOA (Madagascar) Master of Development Studies University of Melbourne

Herizo (Zo) HARIMALALA TSIVERISOA Master of Development Studies University of Melbourne I come from a geology background and have been working with the Ministry of Mines in Madagascar as a lapidary instructor before leaving to commence my Australia Awards scholarship in Melbourne. A part of my job consisted of promoting and supporting Malagasy graduates to run a fair trade business. My role was to network between different actors in the supply chain from the mine to jewellers and all supplier services in the process such as dealers, equipment supplier, faceters, gemmologist, brokers, jewellers and consumers. I am also a consultant for few international firms who specialise in sustainable development for artisanal and small-scale mining in Ethiopia and Malawi. I left my job for the masters scholarship in Australia and one of the main reasons for choosing Australia is its similarity to Madagascar. Australia and Madagascar have comparable assets: both are rich in endemicity and biodiversity, both have huge mining potential especially in gemstones and gold. Both have different issues: Australia has advanced skills in mining and in preserving its natural environment compared to Madagascar. Madagascar, for different reasons, the majority of local miners are isolated, under skilled and not aware of the real value of the stones they are mining or dealing.

Herizo (Zo) HARIMALALA TSIVERISOA Master of Development Studies University of Melbourne Mining techniques in Madagascar also are very rudimentary, and the duality between biodiversity and mining is one of the current challenges in Madagascar. The reason is that many mining sites are in a protected area (national park, the natural reserve with high endemicity rate). If Malagasy miners knew better ecological mining technics, they would have reduced the environmental impact on natural resources and would have found a better alternative on that critical issue. Still, Madagascar is the first world provider of natural gemstone, 80% of sapphire come from Madagascar with a rage of incredible colour, size and quality in addition to other gemstones. e.g. the grandidierite gem is very famous in Madagascar Gemstone market as it is one of the rarest gems in the world. In term of business incentives, due to its potential and assets, many gem dealers from around the world come to Madagascar for gemstones and other natural resources but business is not always equitable, with few if any quality and equity standards implemented. For a positive change, one of my ambitions is to be able to connect Malagasy miners with Australian professionals for a win-win business model. Some Malagasy miners have constituted a formal association or legal community, and some are individual private brokers. For both - the first hurdle for sectorial development is the need for capacity building and up to date equipment. The second hurdle is market access.

Herizo (Zo) HARIMALALA TSIVERISOA Master of Development Studies University of Melbourne For a positive change, one of my ambitions is to be able to connect Malagasy miners with Australian professionals for a win-win business model. Some of the Malagasy miners have constituted a formal association or legal community, and some are individual private brokers. For both profiles, the first hurdle for sectorial development is the need for capacity building and up to date equipment. The second hurdle is the lack of access to the market. So through the mentorship initiative: I expect to better understand the standards required by Australian gem/gold/jewellery clients in term of quality and ethics with a particular focus on green-gold and green-carpet concept as well as fair trade. I also wish to meet professionals in gemstone from Australia who are willing to collaborate with Malagasy miners with view to a long term partnership. I am also interested in facilitating a knowledge transfer initiative between Malagasy and Australians in different activities related to gemstones (exploration, exploitation, identification, fashioning, jewellery, marketing). With access to a mentor, I see an opportunity to share my reflections, hear feedback on my WPR and how it may have a positive and realistic impact. I want to explore a relationship with Australian companies and professionals who will collaborate on my vision for my country and my sector.