Context and Background
SheDecides is a leading global political coalition standing up for bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Launched in 2017 as a rapid-response campaign to the Trump-era Global Gag Rule, SheDecides has evolved into a global movement connecting Ministers, government officials, civil society leaders, youth advocates, service providers, and researchers across Africa, Asia, the Arab Region, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. Together we take action for the right to decide, at global decision making spaces.
SheDecides requires an experienced Strategic Communications and Political Media Agency to deliver high-impact global advocacy communications, spotlight political leadership advancing SRHR, energise and connect our Champions and allies, and amplify our movement’s collective voice and impact throughout 2027 and beyond.
Communications support throughout 2027 and beyond will centre on three key strategic moments:
- SheDecides+10: Marking ten years of the SheDecides movement - celebrating movement wins, spotlighting the critical leadership of Champions, and demonstrating political resilience in challenging times (focusing particularly on the first half of the year).
- Post-2030 Flagship Report: The design, launch, and global dissemination of a new report and campaign focused on keeping bodily autonomy and SRHR at the heart of the political agenda beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (focusing particularly on the second half of the year).
- Ongoing Communications & Movement Amplification: Year-round communications support to elevate SheDecides’ core calendar of high-level events e.g. Commission on the Status of Women, CPD, WHA, UN General Assembly, International Youth Day, International Safe Abortion Day. This includes strategic messaging, creative design, and digital execution to amplify movement action and impact throughout 2027 and 2028 (including annual reports and support in “making the case”).
- All contain elements of creative design, copywriting, media and multimedia execution.
Scope of Work: Workstreams
The selected agency will work in close coordination with the SheDecides Support Unit to deliver strategic communications, media relations, creative storytelling, and political positioning across 5 main areas and workstreams:
- SheDecides+10 & Champion Spotlights: Develop creative media, video content, digital activations, and social media moments celebrating 10 years of SheDecides and its members, spotlighting movement achievements, national progress, and political leadership.
- High-Level Op-Ed Placement & Thought Leadership: Draft, write, and secure placements for op-eds (up to 5 per year) co-authored by Ministers, youth leaders, and Champions in major international and regional media outlets around key moments (eg, CSW, WHA, UNGA, Safe Abortion Day).
- Design and Comms support for Political Advocacy Events: Support the production of communications needs for high-level moments, including event banners, invitations, branded documents, and social graphics.
- Post-2030 Campaign & flagship Report: Design and execute a global campaign and launch package for a flagship report "A World Where SheDecides”, ensuring SRHR and bodily autonomy remain central to discussions on the post SDG framework.
- Brand Content and Resource Mobilisation: Develop brand content and creative activations that strengthen SheDecides’ positioning, articulate our impact, results, and unique value-add, and unify storytelling across channels. This includes producing narrative materials ("The Story of Us") designed to generate greater interest, engage new members, and inspire donor investment in SheDecides.
Required Qualifications & Expertise
The ideal agency/consortium must demonstrate:
1. Global Media Reach:
Demonstrated capability to write and secure high-level op-eds and earn news coverage across international outlets.
○ Portfolio of published op-eds and feature stories in tier-one international media outlets (eg The Guardian, Al Jazeera, TIME, Devex) within the past 2–3 years.
○ Established active media relationships and pitching capabilities with journalists, editors, and producers covering health, gender, international affairs, human rights, and global development.
○ Proven metrics or case studies demonstrating high audience reach, pickup, and engagement for past placed content.
2. Creative, Design & Multimedia Production:
Strong in-house capacity for digital storytelling, visual campaign design, video editing and report layout/publication design.
○ Professional proficiency in design and video editing software (Adobe Creative Cloud suite: Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Canva).
○ Demonstrated ability to translate dense advocacy content into engaging digital storytelling formats, including social media assets, short-form video, and infographics.
3. SRHR Content Expertise:
Track record in communicating and generating greater understanding/ interest in sexual and reproductive health and rights, global health, gender equality, human rights, political advocacy, and feminist and social movement communications. Strong understanding of global policy and international development cooperation.
○ Minimum of 5 years of professional experience communicating specifically on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, or feminist movement building.
○ Track record of at least 5 years of producing sensitive, culturally nuanced, and rights-based content that aligns with feminist and social justice communications principles, as well as evidence of understanding rights-based language.
4. Political & Strategic Communications:
Demonstrated ability to engage political leaders, youth leaders, researchers, and civil society through strategic communications, alongside a proven track record of translating complex multilateral issues (UN processes, ODA, Feminist Foreign Policy, and post-2030 agendas) into accessible, high-impact communications.
Budget and contact duration
We welcome applications working towards a budget of approx 150,000-175,000 USD per annum. The duration of the contract is 2 years (with a one-year break clause), with a particular focus on 2027 deliverables and support. The budget for 2028 may potentially be reduced in volume and scope, and subject to changes.
How to apply
We are looking for agencies with minimum 5 years experience in strategic communications, and experience on working on issues related to SRHR, gender equality and human rights. Interested agencies are requested to submit a technical and financial proposal by Wednesday 18 November 2026 to Angie Windle (angie@shedecides.com). Proposals should be concise (maximum 12 pages or 12 presentation slides, excluding CVs and financial annexes) and must include:
1. Agency Overview & Relevant Experience:
○ A brief agency profile highlighting at least 5 years experience in comms in global SRHR, gender equality, or feminist movement communications.
○ 2–3 relevant case studies demonstrating past success across the five workstreams within international advocacy and multilateral settings.
2. Proposed Approach & Methodology:
○ Top-line campaign ideas featuring 2–3 high-level concepts, activations, or creative angles to bring the report "A World where SheDecides" to life (keeping SRHR on the post 2030 agenda) detailing how it will effectively reach decision-makers and champions.
3. Account Management & Team Structure:
○ Proposed staffing structure, including short bio summaries for key personnel
4. Financial Proposal:
○ An itemised budget broken down by quarter and deliverable across 2027.
Dates
- SheDecides Agency tender documents launched – Thursday 29 October
- Submission deadline – Wednesday 18 November, applications close at 17.00 GMT.
- Interviews and presentation to SheDecides – Week of 30 November
- Start working with SheDecides – 5 February or sooner
If you are selected for an interview, we request that the team members working on the SheDecides account be the ones to attend. We welcome an internationally diverse representation of applicants, with English as a primary working language.
Please contact Angie Windle if you have any questions – angie@shedecides.com
