REGIONAL OVERVIEW DATA ANALYSIS Category 1: Evaluation of government and public institution 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 institution in question, budgetary allocations, procurement procedures and contact details. Category 2: In this category, information requests are submitted to government and public institutions in order to determine the ease with which public information is obtained from government and public institutions. 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 and public 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: Requests for Information Group 1: (0 – 6) Denied access to reasonable information requested 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. The institution was helpful and transparent. 9