Share-Net International (SNI) is seeking an external consultant or team to conduct the end evaluation of Share-Net International, following the end of the current funding cycle from 2020-2024. The team will conduct the evaluation  from February-June 2025.

Description of the intervention

At the impact level, Share-Net International strives for Evidence-informed policies and practices contributing to improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Two strategic long-term outcomes lead to this impact:

1. National, sustainable and empowered communities of practice on SRHR are established and operational
2. Knowledge is applied to evidence-informed SRHR programmes, policies and practices.

The intermediate outcomes leading to the long-term outcomes show what needs to be done effectively in the CoPs:

• Actual and effective learning is taking place between and in countries among researchers, policymakers, practitioners and optional the media and private sector
• Researchers address scientifically, politically and practically relevant knowledge gaps in SRHR.

The short-term outcomes highlight the role of the network and hubs and what the interactions in CoPs will lead to:

• A network of SRHR CoPs is operational, enabling members and strategic partners to connect, discuss and share, translate and jointly create SRHR knowledge
• Policymakers, practitioners and researchers have better access to SRHR information and knowledge.

There are five pathways that have contributed to the different outcomes of the work of Share-Net International and its hubs:

• Knowledge generation: addressing priority knowledge gaps through research and further analysis and synthesis of existing data.
• Knowledge sharing: dissemination through a wide range of channels and tools, of both new and existing knowledge, as available research findings are often not known by those who should use them.
• Knowledge translation: ensuring evidence is presented in formats appropriate for the intended audience so they can be accessed, understood, and used by advocates, policymakers, programme managers, practitioners, users, researchers, and representatives of the private and the media sectors.
• Promotion of knowledge use: promoting use of knowledge products and formats by policymakers and practitioners for improving policy and practice.
• Network development: creating national communities of practice and links with internationallevel (partners); and matching the needs of certain members with the services our partners can offer (for example, between our members and the private sector and between young researchers and NGOs in need of research).

It is also important to note that SNI and the hubs bring together its members through various strategies, besides the Communities of Practice. These include, but are not limited to: a bi-annual Co-Creation Conference, grants-making structure, the Share-Net International Rapid Improvement Model (SHIRIM), thematic events, research grants and capacity-building for young researchers.

The underlying assumptions are that:

• Evidence-informed policies and practices are used in line with the actual and context-specific SRHR needs of individuals, and take their perspectives and rights into account.
• Established CoPs are able to agree on common values and similar goals with regard to SRHR.
• Improved SRHR knowledge of policymakers, practitioners and researchers lead to better SRHR research, policy and practice such as societally relevant research and use of evidence informed laws, policies and programmes.
• CoPs are able to agree on existing political and societal knowledge gaps in SRHR and priority research agendas, and are able to identify SRHR priorities and the best conditions for joint learning.
• Active participation (engaging in dialogues where best practices and lessons learned are openly shared) of CoP members from the fields of research, policy and practice removes barriers and contributes to strengthened linkages between these fields
• Members have better access to SRHR knowledge and information that is generated, shared, translated and promoted through and by Share-Net International and through active participation in network activitie Share-Net secretariats have the means and capacity to facilitate CoPs and their knowledge management activities.

Some potential external factors that may have influenced the intervention and should be considered by the evaluation are:

• The existence of other knowledge networks or knowledge management initiatives, that may be contributing to similar outcomes as Share-Net.
• The availability of other knowledge dissemination tools and channels that researchers, practitioners and policy-makers may be using to inform their work on SRHR.
• A degree of alignment and a willingness to collaborate between actors in the SRHR field that facilitates networking and collaboration between them.

Objectives and scope

The objectives of the external end evaluation are:

Knowledge objectives
1. To assess the validity of the causal pathways linking activities, outputs and outcomes in SNI’s Theory of Change, and their underlying assumptions, and the extent to which they were adapted to the different country contexts.

2. To assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness and sustainability of SNI in strengthening SRHR knowledge networks, access, generation, sharing and application in the seven hubs and internationally over the five years of implementation (2020-2024).

Action objective
3. To inform SNI’s financial sustainability strategy by generating actionable insights for the diversification of funding, strategic partnerships, alternative funding sources, potential for income generation through services and fundraising opportunities at various levels.

The scope of this evaluation focuses on the short-term, intermediate and long-term outcome levels of SNI in the seven hubs and internationally, for the period 2020-2024.

Evaluation criteria and questions

The evaluation will cover four of the OECD-DAC criteria, from which evaluation questions have been derived. These criteria are relevance, coherence, effectiveness and sustainability.

Relevance

1. Does SNI’s intervention as formulated in the ToC respond to the knowledge needs and priorities of SRHR researchers, practitioners, policy makers and end beneficiaries?
If so, how and do differences in the level of responding to needs and priorities exist between different stakeholders? – If not, why not?
2. Was the intervention adapted to the different country contexts and to possible changes in
those contexts? – If so, how? – If not, why not?

Coherence
3. Is SNI compatible with other relevant SRHR and knowledge management interventions at country level, namely:
– national or sectoral SRHR policies, programmes or networks,
– other SRHR programmes funded by MFA through their strategic partnerships or through
the embassies,
– other programmes or projects of the hub’s member or host organizations?

Effectiveness
4. Has SNI achieved effects, both intended and unintended (positive- and or negative),
regarding the strengthening of:
– SRHR knowledge networks

– knowledge access,
– knowledge generation,
– knowledge sharing
– knowledge application to policy and practice,
– and in relation to its different target groups (researchers, practitioners and
policymakers)?

5. How have these effects been achieved, and how are they related to activities and outputs along SNI’s ToC pathways, and to other factors, internal or external?
6. How relevant and valid are the assumptions underlying the programme’s theory of change globally and in different country contexts.
– What evidence supports the validity of the assumptions underlying the theory of change in program countries?

Sustainability
7. What is the likelihood that SNI’s contributions to improving knowledge networks, access, generation, sharing and application will be sustainable, in terms of:
– sustainability of the results
– potential for financial sustainability (e.g. through fund-raising, co-funding or commercial potential of SNI’s products and services)
– institutionalization of the potential changes in policy, practice and capacity

Methodology

The evaluation should use a mixed-methods approach, combining desk reviews of programme documentation, analysis of secondary data, key informant interviews, Share-Net members survey, and case studies. We suggest using a contribution analysis approach, however the final methodology will be decided by the external evaluation team.

Timeline and deliverables overview

• February 7 2025: deadline for proposal submission
• February 14 2025: communication of selection results
• February 17 2025: contracting
• March 14 2025: inception report
• May 26 2025: Draft report
• June 23 2025: Final report

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please submit your proposal to the email address: sniendevaluation@kit.nl.

Proposals should include:

• Letter of interest (1 page max.), describing the individual or institutional skills and background that makes the applying party suitable for this assignment.
• Technical proposal (3000 words max.)
• Financial proposal
• CVs of team members (2 pages max. per CV).
• Sample report of previously completed evaluation.
• Contact details of two references.
• Declaration of no conflict of interest (please use the template provided in the annexes).

For any questions related to these Terms of Reference, please email sniendevaluation@kit.nl.

Terms of Reference and Annexes

1. Full Terms of Reference (ToR)
2. Matrix of objectives, evaluation criteria and evaluation questions
3. SNI Proposal 2020-2024
4. Strategic Plan 2018-2022
5. Strategic Plan 2023-2027
6. Theory of Change 2018-2022
7. Mid-Term Review
8. Template Declaration of no conflict of interest