The Social Observatory of Vila Nova de Gaia was created in 2019 and results from a collaboration between the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia and the Institute of Sociology of the University of Porto. The Social Observatory aims at deepening, in a scientifically autonomous and independent way, the knowledge about the demographic, economic and socio-cultural fabric of the municipality, in order to inform municipal intervention and public policies.

The work developed by the Social Observatory includes:

• i) analysing the available information systems in an integrated manner, i.e., cross-referencing information;

• ii) where possible, updating the existing data systems;

• iii) collecting and processing sector-specific information using mixed methodologies (quantitative and qualitative);

• iv) regularly producing newsletters containing part of the sectorial information collected and processed, with a view to its broad dissemination throughout the municipality;

• v) producing internal reports whose objective is to inform the actions of the decision-makers;

• vi) disseminating the knowledge produced to the scientific community.