Table 1 Summary of activities and products by objective

Ob1. To characterize, from the experiences of key actors of the health system at the national and local level, the strategies and organizational resources (including human resources and infrastructure) used to respond to the COVID-19 by each of the local health systems chosen for the study.

Finalize case study selection. The cases will include Bogotá and two other cities/departments with the highest prevalence of cases when initiating the study.

Summary of selected case study sites, including initial maps of health system roles, responsibilities and relationships and timelines of responses.

Month 1

Conduct phase 1 stakeholder interviews (up to 30) at national level and in Bogotá. Collect documentary evidence on response to COVID-19

Qualitative dataset

Months 1–2

Analysis of data collected from phase 1 of study data collection.

Paper submitted for peer-review publication and short summary shared of findings shared with health system stakeholders with the aim of informing decision-making.

Months 3–5

Ob2. To identify critical coordination issues or ‘bottlenecks’ that are constraining the capacity of the selected local health systems to respond to the pandemic as well as factors that facilitate the response.

Data collection for phase 2, covering all three case studies (up to 60 additional interviews and 90 in total). Collection of documentary evidence from all sites.

Qualitative dataset

Months 5–6

Data analysis will focus on factors that constrain effective coordination in response to COVID-19.

Analysis of information. This activity will take place from month 2. During the first 2 months, there will be a first analysis that we hope to socialize with the stakeholders involved. This first report, although exploratory, hopes to provide an input for actions in the short term.

See objective 3 products.

Months 7–8

Ob3. To analyse local examples of promising innovations and practices of coordination between actors that promote responsiveness to COVID-19 and have potential for scaling up more widely across health systems and/or integrated into healthcare guidelines or protocols.

Data collection for phase 2, covering all three case studies (up to 60 additional interviews and 90 in total). Collection of documentary evidence from all sites.

Qualitive dataset

Months 5–6

Data analysis will focus on factors that enable effective coordination and promising innovations for ‘scale up’ in response to COVID-19.

Paper submitted for peer-review publication drawing on findings from phase 2 of the study (objectives 1–3). Accessible summary of findings will be shared with health system stakeholders with the aim of informing decision-making.

Months 7–8

Ob4. To establish mechanisms for sharing lessons and experiences of the crisis in a timely fashion with health system leaders and other key stakeholders to inform health service planning in relation to COVID-19 and future pandemics of national and international origin.

As part of the conduct and analysis of interviews, appropriate mechanisms sharing formative findings from the study will be identified.

Establishment of university-health system network to share study findings.

Communication plan for sharing findings, including content, format and frequency of communication.

Products aimed at stakeholders for sharing findings, including final report and lay summary, social media use, newsletters, project website, interactive guidance, webinars and other events.

Ongoing throughout study (months 1–8)