The consultancy is divided into 3 main stages, seeking to articulate the lessons learned from the implementation of the Financial Inclusion component of the first 9 countries implementing the planetGOLD Programme, from a gender perspective. It also seeks to compile additional efforts made by other programmes in order to establish points of convergence and to take advantage of experiences regarding the inclusion of more ASM miners in the different products offered by the financial system, with special emphasis on those in which differential strategies have been established based on gender issues.

In stage 1, a summary and analysis of the experiences of the national planetGOLD phase 1 projects on improving access to finance will be made, including an analysis of the gendered financial barriers addressed and opportunities created. Subsequently, in the second phase, a review and documentation of financial activities linked to ASM, preferably with a gender focus, will be carried out in order to update the report of the Programme “Improving Access to Formal Finance in ASGM”, carried out in 2020. Finally, the third stage aims to carry out a public dialogue on the findings of the consultancy and finalise the planetGOLD thematic report “Improving Access to Formal Finance in ASGM”.

To document financing models in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM), including gender aspects in the framework of PlanetGOLD Global in the first phase implementation countries.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are:

1. To provide an analysis of the ASM financial mechanisms carried out by planetGOLD national projects, including analysis of gender financial barriers addressed and opportunities created.
2. Review the latest global experience on providing access to finance for ASM (beyond the planetGOLD Programme) in order to update previous reports and tools developed in the Programme.
3. Lead an event to engage the global ASM community around the findings of the research conducted.

For each of the stages, the expected results are as follows:

Stage 1:

• Review, evaluation and compilation of findings on the models/mechanisms of access to finance, proposed or implemented so far in planetGOLD phase 1 national projects, with special attention to gender aspects.
• Inter-programmatic analysis of the access to finance mechanisms of the planetGOLD national projects, including gender specific mechanisms, and identify best practices.

Step 2:

• Review of updated information on financing models and mechanisms, developed under initiatives other than the planetGOLD programme, to improve access to finance for artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including those incorporating gender elements.
• Update of the thematic report developed by planetGOLD, “Improving access to formal finance in artisanal and small-scale gold mining”, including recent artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities that emphasise gender aspects.
• Step 3:
  Holding a public dialogue event around the findings of the consultancy, as well as delivering the final update of the planetGOLD 2020 publication.