What is transparency?

As the word itself suggests, transparency is about openness. In terms of democratic governance systems, it is about being able to see what decisions are being made and how they are made, as well as if and how decisions are implemented once they are agreed to. Access to information law is critical to transparency.

But transparency is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. More than anything, transparency is about creating the “political space” for people to defend and exercise their rights.

Without transparency:
citizens are unable to monitor the affairs of their elected representatives;
• decision-making in the legislature, executive or judiciary can be tainted by hidden interests and agendas;
• legislatures do not have the information they need to exercise oversight over the executive; and
• citizens cannot access the information they require to participate effectively in the democratic process.

Transparency is strengthened when:
• critical decision-making fora are open to public and media attendance;
• obligations are placed on political office-bearers to disclose their interests;
• the right of the media to disseminate information on the affairs of government is protected;
• regular, accurate and user-friendly information on government plans, proposals and policies is available and accessible to the public and media;
• the executive has the duty to provide regular, accessible reports on its performance in the public domain;
• there is public access to independent audit reports on government spending; and
• para-statal bodies are subject to account for their performance and fiscal management in the public domain.