MALAWI Category 2- Requests for Information The questions that were sent to Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security were as follows: 1. What is your view on large-scale irrigation farming in Malawi as one way of promoting food sufficiency? 2. Is Malawi currently showing any signs of being affected by global warming? 3. What are some of the worst features of global warming? 4. Do the media capture these features when writing about the environment or agriculture stories? 5. What can the media do to help raise this awareness about global warming among Malawians? 6. Would you provide MISA Malawi with the Ministry’s policies and budget structures? Part 1: Requests for written information n = 20 Yes Additional Information No • 1.Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) The Public Relations Officer (PRO) 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • The PRO did not respond to the request for information 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? • They wanted a soft copy of the questionnaire, though MISA Malawi had sent a hard copy. • 4. Does the authority publish its procedures for dealing with information requests? The Ministry has its own official website (http:// www.moafsmw.org/) where it publishes all other relevant information and the procedure of requesting information from the institution. 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 did not respond to both written and oral request for information. This happened after MISA-Malawi called the ministry and the Public Relations Officer several times. 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 specific policy. 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. • 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? • 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • The PRO did not demand an explanation or justification from MISA-Malawi but kept on promising MISA that he will respond to the requests until the study period ended. Total Score: 4/20 Part 2: Oral request for 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 No Additional Information • The Public Relations Officer 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • The Ministry of Agriculture preferred a soft copy but there was no response at the end of the day. 3. Did the institution respond to your oral request for information? • The PRO asked for an electronic copy that she never responded to. 4. Did the person dealing with your request have a friendly and helpful attitude? • 5. Did officials provide reasonable advice and assistance when seeking information • 6. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’ and indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) • 7. 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’) • 35