LESOTHO Description of Assessment Criteria The total number of points allocated to categories 1 and 2 is 20 points (n = 20) each. Points are awarded based on the researcher’s answer: Yes (2 points); Partial (1 point); No (0 points). Government ministries and institutions fell into one of the following groups in accordance with the number of points that they received. Category 1: Website Analysis Group 1: (0 – 6) Absence of a website or an extremely poor website containing no or almost no relevant public information. Group 2: (7 – 13) Average website containing some relevant public information. Group 3: (14 – 20) Well organised, transparent website providing a good amount of relevant public information. Category 2: Written Request/Oral Request Group 1: (0 – 6) Denied access to reasonable information request or acted with high levels of secrecy. Group 2: (7 – 13) Displayed an average level of openness in allowing access to public information. Group 3: (14 – 20) Displayed openness in allowing access to public information. Institution was helpful and transparent. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS Category 1: Website Analysis Three out of the eight institutions surveyed have independent websites. The Office of the Prime Minster, the Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs did not have independent websites, but there is some information posted on the website of the Government of Lesotho. The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences and the Lesotho National Dairy Board did not have websites at all. Category 2: Requests for Information The Lesotho National Dairy Board and the Office of the Ombudsman were the most cooperative institutions. The Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs scored the least points in this category. The ministry does not even have an officer designated for information dissemination. 25