Share-Net started as the Dutch network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and has been in operation for more than 16 years (since early 2001). With support from DGIS, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) initiated the network to respond to the needs of different international development stakeholders in The Netherlands to strengthen collaboration and increase the knowledge base to inform their work. When setting up the Share-Net secretariat, the KIT built on its prior experience hosting the AIDS Coordination Bureau (ACB, since 1987). An important source of information and knowledge for partners working in the area of HIV, the ACB was absorbed into Share-Net. Share-Net had a paying membership structure from the beginning and was receiving financial support from DGIS and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Share-Net became the Knowledge Platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in September 2013, after winning the tender for the SRHR Knowledge Platform from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the KIT Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) as host. This resulted in a name change towards Share-Net International (SNI). The four-year programme was recently extended until 2019, at 25% of the original budget for the two years. Share-Net Netherlands now functions as the Dutch country hub within Share-Net International. Other country hubs are based in Bangladesh, Burundi and Jordan.

SNI has supported the implementation of the comprehensive agenda for SRHR agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994, and later, the Framework of Actions (see Annex 1 for definitions). The ICPD agenda was largely integrated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)