Members:
Legal Resources Foundation (LRF-Zim – Zimbabwe)
Ditshwanelo (Dits -Botswana)
Malawi Carer (MC – Malawi)
Legal Resources Centre (LRC – South Africa)
Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC-Tanzania)

Areas identified as warranting focus/attention:

• Access to information
• Corruption
• Freedom of information
• Freedom of expression
• Elections
• Security sector reform

It was agreed that the focus would initially be Access to Information. The outcomes would be used to inform future actions.

Activities to be undertaken

1. Analysis of the legal and policy framework pertaining in the member countries – both enabling and restrictive
2. Assess levels of compliance and non-compliance
3. Develop minimum standards and guidelines
4. Lobby policy makers, national and SADC.
5. Information campaign – print and media – to inform citizens

It was agreed that the internal national analysis could be done by member organisations, with no need to engage outside researchers (activities 1 and 2).
A lead researcher would be engaged to produce a composite research report and recommend standards (activity 3)

Obligations of members of GGD Group
Consult surveys already available, eg. Mo Ibrahim Index
Prepare an analytical survey of the current position in one’s own country by end of February 2011
Contribute to drafting clear TORs for researcher
Regional survey to be completed by end of March 2011