About SHIRIM

In 2017, an external evaluation of SNI identified that knowledge exchange between the four country hubs was limited and suggested that SNI should actively facilitate this exchange. SNI country hubs supported this idea and indicated a particular interest in focusing on translating knowledge into products for use in changing policy and practice. In light of these developments, the Share-Net International Rapid Improvement Model (SHIRIM) was established in 2017.

SHIRIM aims to:

• Improve understanding of which strategies contribute to successful knowledge translation and use in the specific context of each Share-Net country hub.
• Develop the capacity of the participating staff from each country hub with respect to knowledge brokering.
• Facilitate learning, collaboration and exchange between the four country hubs.

SHIRIM was built on a method called the Collaborative Approach. It was used previously for improving specific health care practices and reducing costs in specific countries. SHIRIM now uses the Collaborative Approach concept for the first time for knowledge management purposes across different country contexts.

Collaborative Approach

The Collaborative Approach forms part of the Breakthrough Series developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), an independent not-for-profit organization based in the US. The approach was initially developed to further our mission of improving the quality and value of health care. However, it is applicable to everything, as the approach helps organisations close the gap between what we know and what we do by creating a structure in which interested organisations can easily learn from each other and from recognised experts in topic areas where they want to make improvements.

How does the SHIRIM work in practice?

SHIRIM is implemented as a short-term learning system of 18 months during which the country hubs can develop and try out new strategies and interventions to translate knowledge into products for use in changing policy and practice. The country hubs each selected a theme for breakthrough improvement. Share-Net Bangladesh and Share-Net Jordan both chose child marriage, while Share-Net Burundi chose teenage pregnancy. Share-Net Netherlands adopted a slightly different focus by partnering with Rutgers Indonesia to target child marriage in Indonesia. A facilitation team that includes knowledge experts and subject matter experts in the specific focus areas assist the representatives in selecting, testing and implementing changes.

The Collaborative Approach is implemented in a cyclical manner, alternating between learning sessions and action periods:

1. During the first learning session participants learned how to implement the Collaborative Approach in their own context, and got topic updates from subject matter experts. The country hubs also developed a change package which encompassed strategies for knowledge translation to tackle their chosen issue.
2. The country hubs then returned to their country and set up a local collaborative with their own stakeholders. Here, they replicated the first learning session and adapted their change package with the input of these stakeholders.
3. The strategies for knowledge translation were then implemented during the local action period.

Which change packages have been tested in SHIRIM cycle 2018/2019?

Examples of change packages developed and adjusted jointly with local stakeholders include:

• Share-Net Burundi conducted a literature review on best practices to address teenage pregnancies and a stakeholder mapping and analysis. A radio broadcasting talk show was aired on 12 radio stations and a workshop was organised to develop and validate mechanisms for monitoring adolescent pregnancies in Burundi.
• Share-Net Netherlands and Rutgers Indonesia conducted a roundtable and workshop to develop guidelines on the Merariq Culture as misinterpretation contributes to the high incidence of child marriage in Indonesia. A syllabus was developed to provide training on the Merariq guideline and subsequently village heads were trained.
• Share-Net Jordan developed a national action plan based on a previously developed policy brief, developed a media strategy and set up 4 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to address child marriage among Syrian refugees, conduct a research on economic and social drivers and provide awareness training at hospitals and schools.
• Share-Net Bangladesh developed an online information hub on child marriage, which contains a database of stakeholders, their projects, research and tools. A booklet was developed sharing best practices and a round table was organised to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and ensure coordinated efforts.