The Minimum Data Index for Territorial Communities (SMIIG-DATA Territorial Communities) is a scientific index developed by the Tafra Association in 2020 to track the implementation by territorial communities of their legal obligations and best practices for the proactive dissemination of information.
The Minimum Data Index for Territorial Communities summarizes, on a scale ranging from 0 to 100, the performance of the territorial community concerned in terms of its legal obligations as well as best practices for the proactive dissemination of information. The index is based on the normative framework governing the right to information in Morocco, in particular Article 27 of the 2011 Constitution, Law No. 31-13 governing the right to information and the regulatory laws relating to communities, provinces, prefectures and regions. Its reference also includes the international commitments undertaken by Morocco and the recommendations issued by international bodies (World Bank, IMF, OECD).
How is information evaluated within the framework of the Minimum Data Index?
The minimum data index for local authorities consists of 20 pieces of information, 17 of which must be published by law and 3 recommended according to best practices. Each item is scored between 0 and 16 points according to the following criteria:
The information is scored 10 if it is published in an updated form.
The information is scored 0 if it is not published at all, or if it is published but in an unupdated form.
After adopting the first scoring criterion, the information can be scored 3 additional points if it is published in full, and 3 additional points if it is published in an open format that allows it to be copied and reused.
Organization of the minimum data index
The information that must be published proactively, and whose publication is evaluated, is divided into three sections:
Section 1: Citizen participation: This section includes information that enables citizens to follow the affairs of their local authorities and participate in their management and allows them to engage and participate in the decision-making process.
Section II: Public Finance: This section deals with information relating to the management of financial resources and the property of the territorial community, the publication of which is expressly provided by law. The publication of this data is of particular interest as it strengthens the trust between citizens and elected officials. Section III: Public Finance: This section deals with the data communicated to citizens, which brings them closer to the work of the elected and administrative bodies that manage the community, and facilitates their understanding of the work of their territorial communities as well as administrative procedures. The community must obtain a score equal to or greater than 70 points out of 100 to be in good compliance with its legal obligations in the field of the right to access information.