MALAWI 5. Ministry of Information and Civic Education Category 1 - WEBSITE The Ministry of Information and Civic Education had no website at the time of the research. However, the ministry’s department of information has an online publication called Malawi News Agency found on the URL:http://www.manaonline.gov.mw/ which acts as a tool to publicise some developments in the Ministry and any other news. This online publication however does not provide the information the study was looking for. n = 20 Yes No Partial Additional Information 1. Does this website contain up to date information? 2. Does the website contain: a) A description of its powers as well as data on the organisational structure, the functions, and the responsibilities of the administration? b) A list of laws, acts etc. issued within the scope of its powers. c) Reports, policies, programs? d) Budget and expenditure? e) Information about procurement procedures, signed contracts? f) Vacancies and employment procedures? g) The name, the address, the telephone number and the working hours of the respective institution? h) The contact details of public officials? i) A mechanism to request and receive a response to electronic messages and requests for information? Total Score: 0/20 Category 2- Requests for Information The following questions were sent to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education: 1. To what extent is the Ministry of Information and Civic Education ready for the 2014 Tripartite Elections? 2. Do you have any special programs planned for the elections? 3. If yes, would you list them down? Give at least two examples in each category? 4. Would you list down the outlets that the ministry is using to civic educate Malawians on the 2014 elections? 5. Which outlet mentioned in Q4 above is most effective in rural communities? 6. What are some of the challenges that your institution faces when disseminating or giving out information to the public? 7. Would you provide MISA Malawi with the Ministry’s policies and budget structures? Part 1: Requests for written information n = 20 1.Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) Yes Additional Information No • MISA Malawi was directed to talk to the Director of Information (DIO). 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? • 4. Does the authority publish its procedures for dealing with information requests? • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) • The Ministry kept on referring MISA-Malawi from one person to another until the study period expired without accessing the information required. 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact the institution to find out what the policy is in this regard –if the institution supplies written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) • There is no policy directing the request for information. 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. • The ministry did not respond to the written request for information. 31