A plan is a detailed proposal for achieving an objective. It entails two critical elements - time and activities. For example, the timing of advocacy is as important as the messaging. Equally, understanding when to make a decision on a set of activities and establishing entry points is important when formulating a plan. In making that decision, the following 4 steps can be considered:  

1. Step 1: setting the decision-making agenda
2. Step 2: formulation and enactment of processes
3. Step 3: implementation of the plan
4. Step 4: monitoring the effectiveness of the plan

Often, advocacy and influence align with specific goals or window of opportunity (Step 1). If you’ve started to intervene at Step 2, you’ve likely already lost your window of opportunity.

Equally important is who delivers the message. The stakeholders’ mapping activity is likely to establish a set of targets, as well as partners for this work. Depending on the level of power and influence a partner has over a specific advocacy target, one can match the partner organisation and advocacy targets.