Baer's criterion can be generalized as follows: Let $A$ be an abelian category satisfying (AB3-5) with a generator $R$ and let $T : A^{o} \to Set$ be a continuous functor such that $T(R) \to T(I)$ is surjective for all subobjects $I \subseteq R$. Then for every monomorphism $M \to N$ the map $T(N) \to T(M)$ is surjective. If $T$ is representable and $A=R-Mod$, this becomes the usual Baer's criterion. The proof is [simple](http://maddin.110mb.com/baer.pdf).


* Does anyone has come across this theorem?
* Are there applications to non-representable functors?
* Can we somehow put the proof into a general pattern of the form: A statement about monomorphisms can be proven on a "generating system"?
* There are striking similarities with the proof that the cohomology of flabby sheaves vanishes. Is there a common generalization?



Baer's criterion for functors
Regarding the original question (with $A=R$-$\mathbf{Mod}$), I think that
by SAFT *any* continuous functor $A^{\mathrm{op}}\to \mathbf{Set}$ is representable,
and hence the assertion in the original question does not generalize
Baer's theorem.


In detail (with $A=R$-$\mathbf{Mod}$):


(\*) $R$ is a generator in $A$, and hence a cogenerator in
$A^{\mathrm{op}}$.


(\*) $A$ is co-well-powered, because there is a bijection between the
quotient objects of $M\in A$ and the set of submodules of $M$, and the
latter set is small (since by assumption $M$ is small). It follows
that $A^{\mathrm{op}}$ is well-powered.


(\*) $A$ is small cocomplete (as is any $\tau$-algebra, for
$\tau=$(operations, identities)), and hence $A^{\mathrm{op}}$ is small
complete.


(\*) Both $A^{\mathrm{op}}$ and $\mathbf{Set}$ have small hom-sets.


So, all the conditions of SAFT hold for a functor
$A^{\mathrm{op}}\to\mathbf{Set}$, 
and hence any such continuous functor has a left adjoint. Now, if a
functor $G\colon A^{\mathrm{op}}\to\mathbf{Set}$ has a left adjoint
then it is surely representable: Saying that a functor $G$ is
representable is like saying that there is a universal arrow from a
one-object set $1$ to $G$ (Prop. 3.2.2, p. 60 in Mac Lane), and for
this we can take the unit $\eta\_1\colon 1\to G(F1)$ (with $F$ the left
adjoint of $G$). 


(See also the discussion on Watt's theorem on p. 131 of Mac Lane).


I am not sure about the general case of the edited question
(where $A$ is an arbitrary abelian category with a generator +
AB3--AB5). Cocompleteness holds by AB3 (as I have seen in
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelian_category)
), but I do
not know enough to say anything about the question of being co-well-powered.


