CFPs: Support Research and Evidence Generation on Comprehensive and Safe Abortion Care

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Research and Evidence Generation on Comprehensive and Safe Abortion Care call supports international non-profit organizations producing policy-relevant evidence on safe abortion, unintended pregnancy, contraception, and broader sexual and reproductive health and rights. Proposed projects must benefit ODA-approved countries and contribute to Norway’s Action Plan for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality through rigorous research, evidence translation, public communication, and policy engagement.

About the Call for Proposals

The call forms part of Norway’s commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, commonly referred to as SRHR. It responds to gaps in evidence needed to improve laws, policies, financing decisions, healthcare programs, and public understanding related to comprehensive and safe abortion care. The initiative is particularly concerned with areas where SRHR evidence, services, and rights are under political, legal, social, or financial pressure. Purpose of the Funding The program supports research and evidence generation that can inform policy, practice, financing, advocacy, and public debate.

Its principal objectives include:

- Producing rigorous evidence on comprehensive and safe abortion care - Addressing research gaps concerning unintended pregnancy - Strengthening evidence on contraception - Supporting broader policy-relevant SRHR research - Improving evidence availability in fragile or restrictive settings - Translating research into accessible policy information - Supporting evidence-informed advocacy and decision-making - Expanding access to reliable SRHR knowledge - Improving evidence-informed services for girls and women - Reaching vulnerable and marginalized populations - Contributing to gender equality and women’s rights Priority Research Areas Priority will be given to projects that generate, update, synthesize, and disseminate high-quality evidence in areas such as: - Comprehensive and safe abortion care - Unintended pregnancy - Contraception and contraceptive access - Barriers to reproductive healthcare - SRHR laws and policies - Financing for SRHR services - Evidence-informed service delivery - Access in fragile settings - Access in legally or politically restrictive settings - Needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups - Public understanding of SRHR - Use of evidence in policy and advocacy Applicants should clearly define the knowledge gap and explain why addressing it is important for policy or practice. Comprehensive and Safe Abortion Care Comprehensive abortion care includes accurate information, appropriate clinical care, respectful treatment, confidentiality, referral systems, post-abortion care, and access to contraception where desired.

Research may examine:

- Availability and accessibility of services - Quality and safety of care - Legal and policy barriers - Financial barriers - Social stigma - Health-system readiness - Provider knowledge and capacity - Self-managed abortion - Post-abortion care - Referral pathways - Access to reliable information - Experiences of girls, women, and marginalized groups - Effects of restrictive laws and policies Projects should use rights-based, ethical, and context-appropriate approaches. Unintended Pregnancy and Contraception The call also supports evidence generation concerning unintended pregnancy and access to contraception.

Relevant topics may include:

- Unmet need for contraception - Contraceptive availability and affordability - Method choice - Continuity of contraceptive use - Quality of counseling - Supply-chain barriers - Information gaps - Needs of adolescents and young people - Contraceptive access in humanitarian settings - Links between contraception and unintended pregnancy - Social and gender-related barriers - Policy and financing models Projects should explain how the research relates to broader SRHR outcomes and decision-making. Research in Fragile and Restrictive Settings The program prioritizes evidence gaps in contexts where SRHR is under particular pressure.

These may include:

- Fragile or conflict-affected settings - Humanitarian emergencies - Countries with restrictive abortion laws - Settings with weak health systems - Areas affected by political opposition to SRHR - Communities with limited access to reliable information - Locations where marginalized groups face multiple barriers Research designs should account for participant safety, political sensitivity, data protection, and the operational challenges of working in such environments. From Evidence Generation to Evidence Use The call is not limited to producing academic research. Projects should also help decision-makers, advocates, service providers, and other stakeholders use the findings.

Evidence-use activities may include:

- Policy briefs - Legal or policy analysis - Public communication - Stakeholder consultations - Advocacy resources - Knowledge-translation products - Data visualization - Media engagement - Technical guidance - Decision-making tools - Capacity-building - Regional or national policy dialogue - Dissemination in accessible languages and formats Applicants should identify the intended users of the evidence and explain how those users will be engaged. What Is Knowledge Translation? Knowledge translation is the process of turning research findings into formats and actions that can inform policy, programs, advocacy, services, and public understanding. Effective knowledge translation may involve: - Simplifying technical findings without losing accuracy - Tailoring information for different audiences - Engaging decision-makers during the research process - Producing actionable recommendations - Communicating uncertainty and limitations - Making evidence accessible to affected communities - Supporting stakeholders to interpret and apply findings A strong proposal should budget and plan for evidence use from the beginning rather than treating dissemination as a final activity. Targ