Australian Government Advocacy Strategy Services

1. Background

Organisational Context

ChildFund Rugby partners to use rugby as a powerful tool to create positive social impact that supports children and young people to play, learn, and lead.

ChildFund Rugby’s partners use Pass It Back, a set of integrated rugby and life skills learning products, so that children and young people in vulnerable situations have the opportunity to develop critical social and emotional skills, which ensure they are better equipped to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and take leadership roles in their lives.

ChildFund Rugby is World Rugby’s global Social Impact Partner , a multi-year partnership that builds on previous partnerships across five consecutive Rugby World Cup events, which includes Rugby World Cups 2027 and 2029. For more information on ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships, visit here .

ChildFund Rugby sits under a broader Sport for Development (S4D) team, which is led by ChildFund Australia on behalf of the ChildFund Alliance

• a global network of 11 organisations which assists almost 36 million children and their families in 66 countries.

Strategic Context

With Rugby World Cups 2027 and 2029 to be hosted in Australia, and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, ChildFund sees a time-bound opportunity to build on more than a decade of evidenced S4D outcomes. A substantial proportion of this work across the Indo-Pacific has been enabled by Australian Government investment, primarily through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), in conjunction with a global partnership with World Rugby (International Federation).

At the same time, DFAT is significantly expanding its use of sport as a vehicle for diplomacy and development outcomes, underpinned by a clearly articulated strategy to 2032 and a growing portfolio of related investments. ChildFund seeks to position itself not simply as a delivery partner within this agenda, but as a trusted, evidence-led contributor shaping how sport is leveraged to advance Australia’s development and public diplomacy objectives.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a clear, actionable advocacy strategy that enables ChildFund Rugby to strengthen ChildFund positioning with the Australian Government as a credible, evidence-led S4D partner that influences policy and funding for S4D.

The strategy will deliver the following outcomes:

• Australian Government political endorsement of ChildFund’s S4D leadership.

• Secured or advanced funding pathways.

• Government co-ownership or sponsorship of a global S4D Summit in 2027.

To support delivery of these outcomes, ChildFund’s experience over 10 years will be positioned as proof of concept, a delivery accelerator, and a diplomatic asset

3. Scope of Work

The agency will be responsible for strategy development and advisory support, not event delivery, logistics, or ongoing lobbying.

All proposals must be structured around two phases of work. Fees should be clearly costed against each phase.

The scope focuses on understanding and navigating Australian Government policy priorities, budget processes, and decision-making pathways, to support ChildFund to secure government support and position S4D for sustained investment.

Phase 1: Strategy Development

Phase 1 will deliver a clear, actionable Australian Government advocacy strategy that positions ChildFund as a credible S4D partner and establishes pathways to funding and political backing.

3.1 Discovery and Context Analysis

• Facilitate a discovery workshop with key ChildFund stakeholders.

• Review relevant organisational strategies, S4D evidence, and existing Australian Government relationships.

• Analyse the Australian Government policy and funding landscape, including:

DFAT Pacific and regional development priorities.

• Sport diplomacy and major event leverage.

• Gender equality, youth leadership, safe communities, and violence prevention priorities.

3.2 Strategic Advocacy Framework

Develop a concise advocacy strategy that includes but is not limited to:

• A clear advocacy objective focused on positioning and funding outcomes, including securing Australian Government support for the August/September 2027 S4D Summit.

• A strategic rationale linking the work to:

DFAT investment in Pass It Back and S4D across the Pacific and Asia.

• Rugby World Cups 2027 and 2029.

• Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• Australia’s regional leadership ambitions in sport and development.

• Defined short-, medium-, and long-term advocacy objectives, aligned to political and budget cycles.

The advocacy strategy should enable a unified narrative: ChildFund delivering high-quality S4D, with rugby as the proof point, while keeping outputs tightly focused on the agreed outcomes.

3.3 Stakeholder Mapping and Pathways

Identify priority Australian Government stakeholders, including:

• Relevant DFAT divisions and senior officials.

• Ministers, advisers, and parliamentary champions.

• Relevant State Government stakeholders, particularly Rugby World Cup host states (including Queensland and Western Australia where relevant).

• Map decision-making pathways, influence points, and sequencing considerations.

• Identify key risks, dependencies, and mitigation options.

3.4 Messaging, Narrative and Collateral

Develop a government-facing narrative and key messages that:

• Position ChildFund as a credible and experienced S4D delivery and implementation partner.

• Emphasise evidence, scale, and alignment with Australian Government priorities, particularly in the Pacific and Asia.

• Articulate the Sport for Development Summit as a strategic investment mechanism, not a one-off event.

• Enable a strategic narrative that positions ChildFund as a global S4D leader working through national federations, with rugby as the proof point.

• Provide guidance on appropriate collateral to support engagement, such as:

Ministerial briefing notes.

• One-page leave-behinds.

• A concise Summit framing note.

• Provide light-touch media and public narrative recommendations to support government engagement, including advice on amplifying positive decisions and positioning messages for broader audiences.

3.5 Engagement Roadmap

Develop a practical engagement roadmap for 2026–2027, including:

• Recommended meetings, briefings, and moments of influence.

• Alignment with budget cycles, parliamentary sittings, and major sporting events.

• Sequencing of engagement to build momentum toward funding decisions.

• Clearly identify priority next steps for ChildFund following completion of Phase 1.

Phase 2: Capability Transfer and Advisory Support

Phase 2 focuses on embedding the strategy internally and supporting early-stage execution.

3.6 Capability Transfer

Ensure all strategy outputs are usable by internal teams. For example:

• Briefing note structures.

• Engagement tracking tools.

• Support internal ownership of government relationships and follow-up.

• Build internal capability so Australian Government engagement skills are retained within ChildFund.

3.7 Advisory Support

• Provide advisory support and coaching to the Co-Directors, Advisory Lead and designated staff during early implementation.

• Support problem-solving, sequencing, and adaptation as political conditions evolve.

• Provide regular, practical advice aligned to the engagement roadmap and internal capacity.

4. Deliverables

Written Advocacy Strategy

A concise 10–12 page core strategy, supported by appendices as required, including:

• Strategic context and opportunity analysis.

• Clear advocacy objectives and measurable success measures.

• Stakeholder mapping and engagement pathways.

• Messaging and narrative framework, aligned with ChildFund’s broader S4D positioning.

• Engagement roadmap for 2026–2027, aligned to budget cycles and major milestones.

Appendices should include detailed stakeholder maps, engagement calendars, and relevant supporting analysis.

Presentation and Walkthrough Session

A structured walkthrough of the strategy for ChildFund leadership, including recommended actions and sequencing.

Practical Tools

Light-touch tools to support internal execution, such as:

• Engagement roadmap or calendar.

• Stakeholder prioritisation and/or tracking tool.

Coaching, Advice and Support

Advice and support for early-stage implementation, aligned to internal capacity and agreed priorities.

5. Proposal Requirements and Assessment Considerations

As part of their proposal, applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear understanding of the strategic context for this assignment and outline how their approach will respond to it.

This should include:

Risk Management

A high-level assessment of anticipated risks and proposed mitigation strategies, including but not limited to:

• Change of government or minister.

• Budget contraction or reprioritisation.

• The complexity of navigating sport development versus Sport for Development investments.

• Sensitivities related to sports washing and reputational risk management.

Definition of Success

A clear articulation of what success would look like within the initial engagement period, including progress towards:

• Securing or advancing funding pathways.

• Building political backing and government endorsement.

• Government co-ownership or sponsorship of the 2027 Sport for Development Summit.

Strategic Focus

An explanation of how the proposed approach will remain clearly bounded to this assignment, while maintaining a strong focus on:

• National governing body and federation partnerships.

• Gender equality, youth leadership, safeguarding, and violence prevention.

Strategic Rationale

Applicants should demonstrate their understanding of:

• Why now: the strategic relevance of Rugby World Cups 2027 and 2029, Brisbane 2032, and Australia’s evolving sport diplomacy and development agenda.

• Why ChildFund: ChildFund’s evidence base, DFAT-funded track record, and global partnership with World Rugby as a foundation for policy and investment influence.

• Why government: How ChildFund’s standing as Social Impact Partner translates into government value and political relevance.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

Service Provider

• Lead development of the advocacy strategy.

• Provide political and policy insight.

• Ensure the strategy is realistic, targeted, and fundable.

ChildFund Rugby

• Provide strategic direction, S4D evidence, and Summit concept clarity.

• Lead relationships with World Rugby and global partners.

• Retain ownership of Summit delivery and funding negotiations.

ChildFund Australia

• Support alignment with broader Australian Government engagement.

• Provide institutional context and policy positioning.

• Act as the liaison point for Australian Government engagement coordination (including visibility of engagements and alignment across ChildFund priorities), while maintaining direct access for ChildFund Rugby to relevant stakeholders.

ChildFund Internal Coordination

• A designated ChildFund lead will coordinate inputs and feedback.

• All government relationships remain client-owned.

7. Exclusions

The scope explicitly excludes:

• Event design, logistics, or delivery.

• Ongoing lobbying or representation unless separately contracted.

• Ownership of government relationships on behalf of ChildFund.

Note : The scope does include light-touch media and public narrative recommendations as part of messaging and capability transfer, but excludes full communications execution.

8. Timing

Indicative six month timeline:

• Agency/consultant selected: February 2026

• Strategy development and delivery: March - April 2026

• Presentation, feedback, iteration and finalisation: by end April 2026

• Advisory support and capability building: May - July 2026

Final timelines may be refined based on commencement date.

ChildFund will contract for an initial six-month period, with a structured review at the start of month six, with the intention to extend subject to performance and funding availability. All proposals should reflect this.

9. Counter-Terrorism

ChildFund acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism. In order to meet its obligation, the Service Provider will be reviewed against the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and National Security Australia lists at the onset of any financial relationship.

10. Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

ChildFund, its Board, and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability, or completeness of the information contained in this ToR. Nothing in this ToR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this ToR or the submission of an Expression of Interest in response to it. No contract would be created until a formal written contract is executed between ChildFund and a selected Service Provider.

11. Selection Criteria

Qualifications and Experience

Demonstrated experience developing advocacy strategies for:

• Australian Government (DFAT strongly preferred).

• International development, diplomacy, or major event-adjacent policy.

• Experience positioning organisations as funding or policy partners (not just influencers).

• Familiarity with Indo-Pacific development and Australian foreign policy settings.

Skills

• Strong political and policy analysis capability.

• Ability to translate evidence into compelling government narratives.

• Experience working with senior executives and boards.

• Proven capability transfer and internal capacity-building.

• Clear, realistic, and ethical advocacy approach (non-lobbying).

12. Application Instructions

Please apply via Bamboo, including a proposal that responds to this ToR, provides portfolio evidence of relevant experience, and clearly outlines the fee structure proposed.

ChildFund Rugby will shortlist up to three applicants and require a 60-minute window with key staff proposed to lead service provision, which will include a 15-minute presentation responding to the service requirements, followed by questions and discussion.

The closing date for this application is 2 March 2026.