End line Assessment Report on Right to Information Law in Sindh

Agency for International Development (USAID). The project, "Enhancing Demand for RTI Laws by Media Capacity Building," was implemented by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE). The study aimed to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of newspaper editors and journalists in Sindh province regarding the Right to Information (RTI) law. The study was conducted in March 2016 at Karachi, with a sample size of 278 participants, including 250 E-survey respondents, 25 in-depth interviewees, and 3 focus group discussion participants. The study used a simple random method to select participants from the project activities' participation lists. The data collection tools included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and E-survey questionnaires. The study found that 84% of the participants had a good understanding of the RTI law, and 100% of the participants agreed that RTI legitimation would help improve services and increase the involvement of common citizens. The participants also shared their experiences about using Freedom of Information as a tool to obtain information and reported success in doing so. The study also showed that most participants were optimistic about using the RTI tool for acquiring information, but had doubts about the government's will to legitimate and implement the law. The study highlighted the importance of RTI laws in promoting transparency, good governance, and effective participation of citizens in decision-making processes. The participants emphasized the need for strong mobilization of not only journalists but also the general public to access information related to public services and projects. The study also recommended that there should be a strong coordination among media organizations, such as the Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists, the All Pakistan Newspaper Society, and the Karachi Union of Journalists, to effectively monitor and implement the RTI law. The study's findings suggested that the RTI law can be an effective monitoring and public strength tool, but it requires a strong coordination among media organizations and the government's commitment to legitimate and implement the law. The study's recommendations aimed to help implement the RTI law and promote transparency, good governance, and effective participation of citizens in decision-making processes. The study's methodology involved collecting qualitative and quantitative data through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and E-survey questionnaires. The study's design was similar to the baseline study, and the simple random method was used to select participants from the project activities' participation lists. The study's timeline included developing or revising data collection tools, data collection, data cleaning and analysis, and drafting the report. Overall, the study provided valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of newspaper editors and journalists in Sindh province regarding the Right to Information Law. The study's findings and recommendations aimed to promote transparency, good governance, and effective participation of citizens in decision-making processes.