Table 2 Reporting gaps identified in evidence reviews

CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS [1, 3, 11,12,13,14,15,16,17]

Lack description of:

• Theory of change, logic model, program theory or conceptual framework with intermediate and long-range outcomes

• Measurement of outcomes

SITE DESCRIPTION [13,14,15, 18]

Lack description of:

• Minimum conditions for implementation (e.g., expertise of local organizations, nature of social capital, relationships between citizens and state)

• Site or location (e.g., conflict or stable governance)

STUDY INFORMATION [3, 11, 16, 17, 19,20,21]

Lack description or statement regarding

• Participants in research design (whether/how community was involved) and relationship between evaluation and intervention teams

• Study design, data collection methods and protection of human subjects

• Perspective of study (e.g., single or multi-actor)

• Limitations of study

• Availability of data and funding information

• Key words relating to SA

INTERVENTION [2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18,19,20,21]

Lack description of or statement regarding:

• Genesis of intervention (e.g., funded short term, grassroots, systems-oriented)

• Actors involved, at all levels (e.g., health facility, type of provider, non-state health actor, community individuals or groups), including whether and how disadvantaged groups are involved and barriers to participation (for all actors)

• Intervention details (e.g., process, scale, interaction with context, gendered dimensions)

• Recourse processes and effects

• Linkages to other accountability processes or movements

• Any social harms or unintended negative effects

CONTEXT [1, 2, 11,12,13,14,15,16, 22]

Lack description of or statement regarding:

• Contribution of contextual conditions that influenced design and that influence outcomes, including factors that might prevent change

• Local power relations

• Confounding factors

OUTCOMES [1, 3, 11, 13,14,15, 18, 19]

Lack of description of or statement regarding:

• Duty bearer responsiveness

• Community outcomes

• Longer term outcomes (e.g., sustainability)

ANALYSES [11, 14, 15]

Lack of description of or statement regarding:

• Distinguish between outcomes of process and outcomes of evaluation.

• Whether outcomes vary by sub-group

• Author reflexivity

• Respondent validation