MALAWI n = 20 Yes g) The address, telephone number, and working hours of the institution? No Partial Additional Information • h) The contact details of specific public officials? • i) A mechanism to request and receive a response to electronic messages and requests for information? • Total Score: 8/20 CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: 1. How prepared is the Ministry of Agriculture to effectively deal with the poor harvest and impending food crisis in the country? 2. What long-term measures has the Ministry put in place to improve the food situation in the country in the long-term? 3. As the key policy body in the agricultural sector, what is the current status of the Green Belt Initiative? 4. What are some of the key projects the Ministry is working on or implementing to improve crop diversification in the country? 5. What are some of the challenges affecting the work of the Ministry of Agriculture? n = 20 Yes No 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? • 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? • 3. Did the institution respond to the request for information? • 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? Additional Information • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? • 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? • 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. • 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? • 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • Total Score: 12/20 7. Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Category 1: Website www.lands.gov.mw The website is well-established and has the following: About us; Departments; News and Events; Downloads; and Contacts. However, as the news, press release and report content did not have dates, it was difficult for the researcher to know the exact date the information was uploaded. Unlike many ministries, the web page has a section on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which seemed to adequately provide answers concerning land ownership, land divisions and relevant personnel responsible for different operations. The website also has policies governing the Ministry and signed contract agreements. As much as the website provides for contact addresses for the Ministry, it does not have contact details for specific officials. The Ministry, just like the Ministry of Agriculture, has a Facebook account linked to the official government Facebook account; however, this page is not updated. 20