Evidence Action Launches RFP for Global Congenital Syphilis Advocacy Strategy|1 May 2026

Evidence Action, a leading global nonprofit known for scaling evidence-based health and development solutions, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a comprehensive global advocacy strategy targeting congenital syphilis. The RFP invites experienced consultants and organizations to submit proposals by 1 May 2026, aiming to mobilize resources, elevate awareness, and accelerate global elimination efforts.

Evidence Action has successfully delivered health and development interventions to over half a billion people worldwide. Its focus on cost-effective programming and measurable impact has positioned it as a key player in global health, working in nine countries with more than 900 staff and partner organizations. This RFP aligns with the organization’s mission to implement evidence-based solutions to reduce the burden of preventable health conditions, including congenital syphilis.

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Background: The Global Burden of Congenital Syphilis

Congenital syphilis continues to pose a significant public health challenge. Annually, the disease results in over 390,000 adverse outcomes, including 150,000 stillbirths and 70,000 neonatal deaths. Despite its severe impact, funding for congenital syphilis prevention remains disproportionately low.

Key insights into the problem include:

• Babies born today are 11% more likely to be exposed to congenital syphilis than eight years ago.
• Proven, low-cost interventions, including HIV/syphilis dual rapid testing ($0.15 more than HIV tests) and same-day benzathine penicillin treatment ($0.20), prevent more than 80% of adverse outcomes.
• While new HIV infections among children under five have declined dramatically since 2010, congenital syphilis persists with an estimated 700,000 cases globally in 2022.

The Global Coalition for the Elimination of Congenital Syphilis, convened by Evidence Action in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, WHO, PATH, Unitaid, and other stakeholders, is now focused on coordinated advocacy efforts. The coalition’s primary objective is to mobilize at least $20 million in new funding for elimination programs.

Purpose of the Advocacy Strategy

The RFP seeks proposals to develop a strategic, actionable advocacy plan that guides coalition-led efforts for global resource mobilization and awareness raising. The strategy will focus on:

• Donor and stakeholder mapping
• Development of a targeted stakeholder engagement plan
• Creation of advocacy assets
• Identification of opportunities to increase funding, including domestic resource mobilization

The strategy will complement an investment case being developed in parallel, which will provide evidence to support advocacy efforts and inform funding decisions.

Key Deliverables

The advocacy strategy will be developed with two main deliverables:

1. Core Advocacy Strategy Document

The strategy document (25-30 pages plus appendices) will include:

• Donor and Stakeholder Mapping: Analysis of the current funding landscape, donor segmentation, prioritized list of top prospects, civil society mapping, and policy opportunities.
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan: Tailored engagement strategies for donors, policymakers, and implementers; messaging frameworks for different audiences; donor outreach plans; in-country champion engagement; communications and visibility strategies.
• Advocacy Assets: Development of a modular advocacy toolkit with messaging frameworks, country case studies, social media assets, talking points, and slide decks in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese).
• Implementation Timeline and Coordination: An 18-month roadmap with quarterly milestones, integrated with global and regional health events.

2. Advocacy Implementation Toolkit

A practical set of tools to support coalition members, including:

• Stakeholder mapping matrices
• Engagement tracking logs
• Message house frameworks by audience
• Advocacy brief templates for donors, policymakers, and implementers
• Email outreach templates and country case study templates
• Modular slide library for flexible presentations

All materials will be designed to communicate clear calls to action and support ongoing updates as new evidence and funding opportunities emerge.

Proposed Methodology

Applicants are encouraged to employ a rigorous and participatory methodology, combining stakeholder consultations, landscape analysis, and coalition workshops:

• Stakeholder Consultation: Conduct 15–20 key informant interviews with coalition members, donors, country government representatives, and global health experts.
• Landscape Analysis: Map funding sources, analyze donor priorities, review comparable advocacy campaigns, assess policy windows, and evaluate civil society partnerships.
• Strategic Framework Development: Create a theory of change, map advocacy pathways, and ensure alignment with coalition objectives.
• Coalition Workshop: Facilitate 1–2 virtual workshops to gather input, build consensus, and validate the advocacy strategy.

Proposal Requirements and Qualifications

Interested consultants must submit proposals addressing:

• Organization/individual overview and relevant experience (max 2 pages)
• Proposed approach and timeline for strategy development (max 4 pages)
• Team biographies/CVs (1 page per member)
• Detailed budget breakdown in Excel, including daily/hourly rates and reimbursable expenses
• Three professional references from recent work

Qualified applicants should demonstrate:

• Proven experience in developing global health advocacy strategies
• Familiarity with HIV, STI, MNCH funding landscapes and donor ecosystems
• Strong skills in resource mobilization, donor engagement, and multi-stakeholder coalition management
• Excellent written and visual communication skills

How to Apply and Timeline

Proposals should be submitted electronically via email to rfp@evidenceaction.org and anna.konstantinova@evidenceaction.org by 1 May 2026, 5 pm EDT. Questions regarding the RFP are due by 17 April 2026, with responses provided by 22 April 2026.

Evidence Action promotes transparent and fair competition in its procurement process and reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. Successful vendors will be required to negotiate contracts in good faith, adhere to confidentiality agreements, and obtain prior consent before public references.

Conclusion

This RFP represents a strategic opportunity for experienced consultants to shape a global advocacy strategy that will have a measurable impact on the elimination of congenital syphilis. By mobilizing resources, engaging stakeholders, and providing actionable guidance, the selected team will play a critical role in improving maternal and child health outcomes worldwide.

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