SWAZILAND CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION Part 1: Request for written information The following questions were sent to the National Emergency Relief Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA): 1. Does your office have an information desk? 2. Does your office have a website? 3. If so, how often is your website updated? And who is in charge of your website? 4. What proportion of NERCHA’s budget is directly used to assist people living with HIV/AIDS? How does it assist? 5. How do you promote access to information, so that citizens can be informed? n = 20 Yes No 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) s 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) s 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? s 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? s 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) s Additional Information Information Officer s 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact institution to find out what the policy is in this regard – if they supply written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. s 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? s 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? s The request was acknowledged on the same day 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? s Very clear and helpful Total Score: 18/20 Part 2: Request for oral information Oral questions asked of NERCHA: 1. How does NERCHA include its services for LGBTI clients? 2. Are NERCHA’s messages also delivered in the local language? 3. Does NERCHA use social media to reach its audience? n = 20 Yes No Additional Information Information Officer 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) s 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) s 3. Did the institution respond to your oral request for information? s The information officer availed himself and gave detailed information during the face to face interview 4. Did the person dealing with your request have a friendly and helpful attitude? s The person was friendly and very helpful 5. Did officials provide reasonable advice and assistance when seeking information? s 6. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, and indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) s 7. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact institution to find out what the policy is in this regard – if they supply written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) All the information requested was provided s There was no refusal 83