Reform Description

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has developed an online portal “Mahoali Portal” to facilitate the submission of Right to Information (RTI) requests to state institutions. ICO Maldives will improve accessibility of information by upgrading the Mahoali Portal to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA and develop accessibility guidelines for public authorities.

Additionally, ICO will also develop a proactive disclosure compliance monitoring application with a public-facing dashboard showing real-time institutional compliance. The public-facing dashboard will also be in compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA.

Problem(s) Addressed by Reform

Despite having a strong legal framework guaranteeing the right to access information, significant implementation challenges continue to limit the public's ability to access information and hold public institutions accountable. An assessment on the implementation of RTI in the Maldives, conducted by the ICO and TM found that proactive disclosure remains the weakest area of RTI implementation, with many public authorities failing to publish information that is legally required to be disclosed.

The assessment also highlighted weaknesses in institutional systems, limited digital infrastructure, and insufficient mechanisms for monitoring compliance with RTI. Inconsistent disclosure practices, delays in access to information, and limited visibility into institutional performance undermine confidence in the implementation of the RTI Act. While the ICO monitors compliance with proactive disclosure requirements, monitoring results are not currently available through a centralized public platform. As a result, citizens, journalists, CSOs, researchers, and other stakeholders face challenges in tracking institutional performance, comparing compliance across public authorities, and identifying areas for improvement, limiting public oversight and reducing incentives for institutions to meet their transparency obligations.

Accessibility and usability barriers also affect the effective exercise of the right to information. While the Mahoali Portal has improved the process for submitting and managing RTI requests and appeals, users have identified challenges relating to accessibility, navigation, functionality, and ease of use, including limitations for State institutions to register and manage their own users accounts, tools to address user errors, as well as a lack of guiding resources. The portal also does not currently comply with internationally recognized web accessibility standards, creating barriers for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

To better understand these challenges, the ICO and TM consulted with Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) and representatives of PWDs in late 2024. Participants identified barriers to independently accessing information and using the portal, highlighting broader challenges related to digital inclusion. In addition, public authorities lack standardized guidance on providing information in accessible formats and responding to RTI requests in ways that accommodate diverse accessibility needs.

These challenges affect different groups in different ways. PWDs face barriers in accessing information and using Portal services independently. CSOs and journalists rely on timely and accessible information to monitor actions and promote accountability. Researchers require reliable information to support evidence-based analysis, while members of the public depend on accessible information to understand government decisions, access services, participate in public affairs, and exercise their democratic rights.

This reform addresses two significant barriers to the effective implementation of the RTI Act: unequal access to information and weak transparency regarding compliance with proactive disclosure obligations.

First, the reform will improve the accessibility, usability, and inclusiveness of the Mahoali Portal, the country's most used platform for submitting and managing RTI requests. By upgrading the portal to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA standards and addressing user-experience challenges identified through consultations with public institutions, portal users including DPOs, the reform will improve user experience and remove barriers that currently prevent many individuals from independently accessing information. The development of accessibility guidelines for public authorities will further support consistent and inclusive practices for providing information in accessible formats and responding to RTI requests in ways that accommodate diverse user needs.

Second, the reform will strengthen transparency and accountability in the implementation of the RTI Act by improving the monitoring of proactive disclosure obligations and enhancing the disclosure of monitoring in real time. The development of a digital compliance monitoring application and public-facing dashboard will ease the process for monitoring compliance by providing a central platform to record findings and strengthen monitoring by transforming compliance monitoring from an internal oversight process into a transparent and accessible accountability mechanism. Citizens, journalists, CSOs, researchers, and other stakeholders will be able to access information on the compliance of public authorities with proactive disclosure requirements in a timely and user-friendly manner. This increased visibility will enable public scrutiny, support evidence-based advocacy, and create stronger incentives for institutions to meet their legal obligations.

The reform also addresses recommendations emerging from the joint ICO and TM assessments on RTI implementation, which identified key areas proactive disclosure, accessibility, and digital infrastructure as key areas requiring improvement. By combining institutional guidance, technological improvements, and public transparency measures, the reform tackles both the demand-side and supply-side challenges of access to information. It not only improves how people access information but also strengthens how public authorities disclose information and are held accountable for their compliance with the law. As a result, the reform represents a significant step towards ensuring that the right to information is more accessible, inclusive, transparent, and effectively implemented for all people in the Maldives, while strengthening public trust in RTI institutions and advancing broader open government objectives.

Relevance to OGP Values

Transparency: The reform will strengthen transparency by improving compliance with proactive disclosure obligations under the RTI Act and enhancing reactive disclosure process. The enhancements to the Mahoali Portal and the development of accessibility guidelines will help ensure that information is not only available, but also accessible to a wider range of users, including persons with disabilities and others who may face barriers in accessing information. The development of a compliance monitoring application and public-facing dashboard will strengthen the monitoring capacity of ICO and make information about the disclosure practices of public authorities publicly available in a timely and accessible manner. Stakeholders will be able to view and compare compliance levels across institutions, creating greater visibility into how public authorities fulfil their legal obligations.
 
Public Accountability: The reform strengthens accountability by increasing oversight of public authorities' compliance with the RTI Act. Making monitoring results available through a public platform will enable stakeholders to scrutinize institutional performance, identify trends and gaps, and engage more effectively with public authorities on transparency issues. The reform therefore transforms compliance monitoring from an internal regulatory process into a mechanism that enables public accountability and encourages continuous improvement in disclosure practices.

Civic Participation: Access to timely, reliable, and accessible information is essential for meaningful public participation. By reducing issues and accessibility barriers in the current RTI portal and improving the availability of information through proactive disclosure, the reform will enable a wider range of individuals and organizations to engage in public affairs, participate in policy discussions, advocate for reforms, and make informed decisions. The reform is particularly relevant for persons with disabilities, who currently face barriers when accessing information and digital services. It also supports community groups that rely on public information to inform public debate, produce evidence-based analysis, monitor government performance, and advocate for improved governance.
The reform also reflects open government principles in its design and development. The proposed interventions are informed by evidence-based research and accessibility improvements are informed by consultations conducted with DPOs, representatives of persons with disabilities, and other users of the Mahoali Portal, ensuring that the reform responds to the needs of those most affected by existing barriers. Overall, the reform seeks to create a more open, inclusive, and accountable information ecosystem in the Maldives by ensuring that public information is proactively disclosed, easily accessible, and subject to public scrutiny. 

Intended Results

By the end of the implementation period, the ICO will have a more accessible, transparent, and accountable framework for implementing the RTI Act.

Key intended results include:

• The Mahoali Portal upgraded to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, providing a more inclusive and user-friendly platform for submitting and managing RTI requests.
• Improved access to information for persons with disabilities and other users who face barriers in accessing digital services.
• Accessibility guidelines developed and adopted to support public authorities in providing information in accessible formats and responding to RTI requests in an inclusive manner.
• A digital compliance monitoring system established to strengthen oversight of proactive disclosure obligations under the RTI Act.
• A public-facing dashboard operational, providing transparent and timely information on institutional compliance with proactive disclosure requirements.
• Increased public access to information on the performance of public authorities, enabling  and driving stronger public oversight and accountability.
• Improved compliance by public authorities with proactive disclosure obligations through increased monitoring, transparency, and public visibility.
• Enhanced public confidence in the implementation of the RTI Act and greater ability for citizens, CSOs, journalists, researchers, and other stakeholders to use information to participate in public affairs and hold institutions accountable.
Ultimately, the reform aims to create a more inclusive access-to-information ecosystem where information is easier to obtain, institutional compliance is more transparent, and all individuals can exercise their right to information.

Milestones

1. Develop and operationalize a proactive disclosure compliance monitoring system
• Review and strengthen existing compliance monitoring methodologies and indicators used by ICO.
• Design and develop a digital application to support the collection, management, analysis, and reporting of proactive disclosure compliance data.
• Incorporate a public-facing interface within the system to provide accessible and timely information on public authorities' compliance with proactive disclosure requirements under the RTI Act.
• Pilot, test, refine, and launch the monitoring system to ensure usability, reliability, and accessibility.

2. Upgrade the Mahoali Portal
• Design, develop, and deploy enhancements to the Mahoali Portal to improve accessibility, usability, and functionality.
• Implement upgrades required to achieve WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and address accessibility and user-experience issues identified through consultations with DPOs, persons with disabilities, and other portal users.
• Conduct user acceptance testing and accessibility testing to ensure that the upgraded portal effectively addresses identified barriers and meets the needs of diverse users.

3. Develop and publish Accessibility Guidelines for Public Authorities
• Review international accessibility standards and good practices relevant to access to information.
• Develop practical guidelines to support public authorities in providing information in accessible formats and responding to RTI requests in ways that accommodate diverse accessibility needs.
• Publish and disseminate the guidelines and conduct awareness activities to support their adoption and implementation.

4. Strengthen institutional capacity
• Train ICO staff on accessibility requirements, administration of the upgraded Mahoali Portal, and the operation of the proactive disclosure monitoring system.
• Provide capacity-building support to information officers and other relevant officials on proactive disclosure obligations and accessible information practices.

5. Public awareness and stakeholder engagement
• Promote awareness of the upgraded Mahoali Portal and accessible RTI services.
• Raise awareness among citizens, CSOs, journalists, researchers, and other stakeholders on how to access and use proactive disclosure compliance information.
• Engage stakeholders throughout implementation to gather feedback and support continuous improvement.

6. Monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement
• Track progress against agreed objectives and milestones.
• Collect user feedback on both the upgraded Mahoali Portal and the proactive disclosure monitoring system.
• Assess the effectiveness of the reforms and identify opportunities for further improvements to accessibility, transparency, and accountability.

Is Civil Society Involved?

Yes.

Civil society has been involved in shaping this reform and will continue to play an active role in its implementation. The commitment builds on the ongoing collaboration between the Iinformation Commissioner's Office and Transparency Maldives.

In identifying the challenges and opportunities for improvement in the current framework, CSOs including DPOS, journalists, and other users of the Mahoali Portal provided. During implementation, TM will serve as an implementing partner, providing technical support, stakeholder engagement, and expertise on access to information and open government. DPOs, other CSOs, and portal users will continue to contribute by providing feedback on improvements, supporting the development of accessibility guidelines, and participating in user testing and on the upgraded Mahoali Portal and the proactive disclosure compliance monitoring system.

Their continued involvement will help ensure that the reforms are user-centred, accessible, and responsive to the needs of information seekers, while promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation in the implementation of the RTI Act.