Yes No 6. Information about procurement procedures or signed contracts? X 7. Information about vacancy and employment procedures? X 8. The address, telephone number, and working hours of the organisation? 9. The contact details of specific public officials? X 10. A mechanism to request and receive responses to electronic messages and requests for information? X Partial X Additional information It has information on the address and contacts but not working hours. Total score: 9/20 CATEGORY 2: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION A request for the following information was sent to the Ministry of Agriculture: How many farming employees did the ministry employ in the last farming season? What is the ministry doing to ensure diversification in the sector? What food crops, besides maize, are currently being grown in Zambia? How has the Farmer Input Support Programme helped the Zambian farmer in recent years? Are there any challenges with the above-mentioned programme? If so, how is the ministry working to resolve them? y y y y y n = 20 Yes No Partial Additional information 1. Is there an official, who is designated to take and respond to information requests? X The Office of the Permanent Secretary handles all correspondence on behalf of the ministry. 2. Did the organisation reply within 21 days? X An official from the ministry called to schedule an appointment with the researcher. 3. Did the organisation respond to the request for information? X When the researcher arrived for the meeting, she was told to make another appointment. She later called the officer, who asked her to call the following day. The officer promised to email the requested information but did not. 4. Does the organisation publish their procedures for handling information requests? X 5. Did the organisation provide all of the requested information? X 6. Did the organisation provide written reasons for the refusal of information? X RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE 171 ZAMBIA n = 20