DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Since 2009, the MISA has evaluated the level of openness of government and public organisations in its annual Transparency Assessment. Carried out by MISA Chapters alongside local researchers, the study seeks to establish the ease or difficulty with which citizens can access public information. 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). The study assesses whether public organisations proactively make relevant information available via an online presence in the form of a website or social media accounts. It further evaluates to what degree information is made available to citizens upon request. Public organisations fall into one of the following groups in accordance with the number of points they received: Category 1: Website Analysis Group 1 (0–6): Every year, on 28th September, MISA joins the international community in commemorating the International Day for Universal Access to Information. MISA marks the occasion through: Absence of a website or an extremely poor website containing no or almost no relevant public information. Group 2 (07–13): Average website containing some relevant public information. The regional launch of the MISA Transparency Assessment Group 3 (14–20): Well-organised, transparent website providing a good amount of relevant public information. Hosting National Golden Key and Golden Padlock Awards Ceremonies Category 2: Requests for Information Group 1 (0–6): DATA ANALYSIS Group 2 (07–13): Displayed an average level of openness in allowing access to public information. Category 1: Evaluation of government and public organisation websites to determine the accessibility and presence of credible and updated public information, which includes but is not limited to powers and functions of the organisation in question, budgetary allocations, procurement procedures and contact details. Group 3 (14–20): Displayed openness in allowing access to public information. The organisation was helpful and transparent. The following countries were surveyed in this 2020 MISA Transparency Assessment: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Category 2: In this category, information requests are submitted to government and public organisations in order to determine the ease with which public information is obtained from government and public organisations. RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE Denied access to reasonable information requested or acted with high levels of secrecy. 3 OVERVIEW BACKGROUND