Public Opinion Activity (POA) Work Plan Year 3

The work plan is divided into two components: Data collection and Communications & Outreach (C&O) Strategy. Component #1: Data collection focuses on developing a nationally representative survey of voting-age adults to measure citizens' behaviors, perceptions, experiences, and attitudes towards democratic values and institutions. The technical team will follow a series of steps, including questionnaire design, sample design, training of interviewers, fieldwork, and data entry. The survey will be conducted from May to August, with data auditing and processing taking place from September to December. The second component of the work plan, Communications & Outreach (C&O) Strategy, aims to turn the Observatorio into an ally for its stakeholders and the general public by delivering inputs generated by POA and creating public dialogues and debates. The C&O strategy will be implemented in two phases: results dissemination and sustainability and relationship-building. The technical team will design the dissemination strategy for the 2017 Special sample and 2018 National sample, while the communication's team will prepare the general report format, map and update stakeholders, and design the presentation and infographics. The C&O strategy also includes the establishment of an Advisory Board, which will provide input on the questionnaire design and help to generate relations with key institutions. Additionally, the Observatorio will establish contact with decision-making stakeholders, influencers, and opinion leaders, and will develop notes, information, and analytic articles for publication in the University's media. The work plan also includes a budget of USD $639,627, with an average monthly expenditure of $53,302. The Observatorio hopes to add the focus groups to the activities planned for Year 3 of the award, once the new exchange rate and budget are approved by USAID. The POA work plan is focused on the regions, with a special sample that will allow the Observatorio to determine opinions and perceptions of the average Colombian who lives closest to the peace municipalities. The structure of the reports will change, with a focus on regional analysis instead of thematic analysis. The Observatorio will become an active player, a bridge between public opinion and stakeholders, responsible for the design and implementation of public policies in two phases: results dissemination, and sustainability and relationship-building.