---
title: "Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE"
published: "2025-02-12"
---

# Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment

Buyer: FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd.json)

## Summary

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking suppliers to participate in the procurement process for the "Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE)" project, classified under the CPV code 75211200 for foreign economic-aid-related services. The tender process is currently in the Tender stage, with the deadline extended to 18th March 2025. The procurement method is open, and submissions are to be made electronically or in writing. The value of the contract is estimated at £81,000,000, and the project includes various phases of grant management and a new pilot offer under the Centre of Expertise for Education. The project aims to improve access, safeguarding, and employment outcomes for women and girls, with a specific focus on increasing female representation in STEM subjects and academia. Interested businesses should note that the FCDO is headquartered in London, UK, and submissions will be reviewed following the bid opening on 4th March 2025.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in higher education services, gender equality initiatives, and technical expertise in economic aid. Companies with experience in managing grants, running competitive processes, and developing programmes to empower women and girls in higher education are especially well-suited for this contract. The project encourages innovative approaches to reducing gender-based violence and enhancing the representation of women in underrepresented fields such as technology. By participating, businesses can expand their global reach, strengthen diplomatic engagements, and showcase their capabilities in supporting educational reform. Organisations that can offer high-quality technical advice, best practices, and tailored policy recommendations will find this tender particularly advantageous for growth and visibility in the sector.

## Notice

Corrigendum to FTS Notice for SHEFE - extension of tender deadline to 18th March 2025

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Inception Period: The below work will be preceded by an inception period to fully resource the team as well as finalise design of the programme. Grant Management: In Phase 1 of the grant management activity the Supplier will design a closed call competitive grant process to invite and select 4 successful pilots from the SPHEIR programme up to a total of PS12.7 million with each grant receiving between (PS1-4 million). These have demonstrated 'proof of concept' and strong results in improving access, quality, and relevance to scale and replicate interventions in new states and geographies. SPHEIR pilots will be required to pivot their concepts to adopt a comprehensive gender transformative approach. In Phase 2 The Supplier will run an open call competitive process to invite 8 new, high potential and innovative proposals up to a total of PS25.6 million, in priority geographies with a focus on improving access, safeguarding and employment outcomes for women and girls. Interventions may include improving take up of STEM subjects and increasing female representation in academia and underrepresented fields such as the tech industry. The Supplier will also invite proposals that drive an evidence-based approach to reducing all forms of gender-based violence and harm, including tackling sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and harassment in the HE sector. Centre of Expertise - Higher Education: The Supplier will launch a new pilot offer under the Centre of Expertise for Education which will be delivered through SHEFE. The demand-led, draw down facility will ensure the FCDO's global network has access to high-quality technical expertise, best practice and tailored policy advice. This will not only expand our global reach to support HE reform, but it will also help to strengthen diplomatic engagement with policy makers. The new enhanced offer will also respond to new windows of opportunity when they arise, including short term requests for direct support from host governments to deliver HE reform, including short-term deployments of embedded experts. It will enhance the 'Best of British' brand by promoting UK expertise and showcase our ability to convene prominent international experts in a community of practice.

Options: option to extend by a further 24 months and by PS40 million

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004770-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 4 Mar 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £81,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2AH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services

## Release History

- 12 Feb 2025 at 14:58 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004770-2025
- 20 Jan 2025 at 16:24 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001928-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office/about/procurement

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd.json.