NAMIBIA CATEGORY 2: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION A request for the following information was sent to the Erongo Regional Council: How is the council planning to support small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic? What is the strategy in place for the distribution of food parcels to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? What is being done to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially in the region’s informal settlements where people share basic amenities such as toilets? Does the council have a strategy for targeted testing, or is it reserved only for people who show symptoms y y y y n = 20 Yes No 1. Is there an official, who is designated to take and respond to information requests? 2. Did the organisation reply within 21 days? X 3. Did the organisation respond to the request for information? X 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 7. Did the organisation disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure, etc. X 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? X 9. Did the organisation acknowledge the request for information within 7 days? Partial Additional information X It is unclear. The researcher was referred to several officials, none of whom were able to officially receive and respond to the request. X The organisation only after the researcher followed up on the request. X 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? Total score: 2/20 2. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE CATEGORY 1: WEBSITE www.moe.gov.na The website is consistently updated with relatively new information and data, specifically about the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the website contains many broken links. The organisation’s Facebook page contains current information, however there is very little engagement with followers. n = 20 Yes Does the website contain the following: 1. X Up-to-date information? RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE 133 No Partial Additional information