Definition

Publish What You Fund completes an assessment of the quality of disclosure policies based on the overarching approach taken in the Global Right to Information (RTI) Rating.

The following characteristics are assessed for disclosure / access to information policies:

• Presumption of disclosure: to score for this indicator, a disclosure policy must have a specific clause that states disclosure as the rule, thereby requiring a compelling reason for non-disclosure.
• Limitations on commercially sensitive information and sensitive internal deliberations information: to score on this indicator, non-disclosure clauses related to these matters must (a) clearly define a legitimate interest that is being protected, (b) be limited to protecting that interest against harm, and (c) be subject to a public interest override. To score on this indicator all three sub criteria must be met.
• Independent appeals process: to score for this indicator, information requesters must have a right to lodge an appeal regarding the application of the disclosure policy with an independent appeals body which includes individuals that are independent from the organisation and which has the power to make decisions on how the policy has been applied in any particular case.