NAMIBIA NAMIBIA SUMMARY in NUMBERS Institution Website Request for information Total score 1. National Council of Namibia 13 14 27 2. Ministry of Youth, National Service and Sport 7 6 13 3. Ministry of Industrial Trade and SME Development 12 18 30 4. Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation 10 2 12 5. Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare 0 4 4 6. Ministry of Finance 15 5 20 7. Ministry Environment and Tourism 2 4 6 8. Anti-Corruption Commission 0 20 20 RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS The majority of public institutions failed to respond to our request for information. However, special mention must be made of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Ministry Industrial Trade and SME Development, as well as the National Council for their speedy and friendly assistance. A general disregard for information requests was evident among surveyed public institutions. The designated official(s) were reluctant to assist, and preferred giving the researcher the run-around. Their failure to respond to written information requests suggests a culture of secrecy and/or incompetence. Public institutions’ online presence is low, while a number of them have outdated sites or websites still under construction. Public institutions should be more active on social media and regularly update their websites. Online platforms are influential and effective tools for information dissemination and direct interaction with the public on issues of national interest. Citizens are now progressively using social media, and public Institutions should use this to their advantage, especially those who want reach the youth, who form the majority of the country’s population. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN namibia The 2016 recipient of the Golden Padlock award for the Most Secretive Public Institution is the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare. They scored 4, which places them as the poorest performer. Public Relations Officers and Information Officers need to be proficient in giving timely information to the public when requested to do so. They seem to want to continuously pass on the request/task to another person. These officers should be trained in updating websites, including social media sites. Public institutions should consider investing in new communication tools that will allow the public access to information, regardless of where they are. The public also needs to hold public institutions accountable when their request for information is ignored or denied. Further, it is critical for the MICT to ensure that the almost completed Communication Strategy is understood and implemented by all public institutions. MISA Namibia and the ACTION Coalition will continue to play our role in bringing about a society within which citizens can access information that results in them making more informed choices about their lives, and be actively involved in the strengthening of our democracy THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN namibia The 2016 recipient of the Golden Padlock award for the Most Open Public Institution is the Ministry of Industrial Trade and SME Development. They scored 30, which places them as the best performer. 59