Methodology
How OpenPolicy.Africa collects, verifies, and classifies government commitments.
Our platform operates on a strict evidentiary standard. A commitment is only marked as progressing if verifiable public evidence exists.
Status Definitions
Completed
The specific target metric has been demonstrably achieved based on primary source documentation (e.g., commissioned project, published audit).
In Progress
Active work is verifiable (budget disbursed, contractors on site) but the target metric is not yet fully met.
Cannot Determine
Crucial standard: Used when government claims progress but no independent or verifiable public record exists to substantiate it.
Delayed / Failed
The deadline has passed without completion, or evidence shows the project is abandoned/funds were mismanaged.
Evidence Hierarchy
Not all evidence is weighted equally. We prioritize primary source documents over secondary reporting.
- Tier 1 (Highest): Published budget execution reports, Auditor-General reports, independent satellite imagery, physical site verification by credible NGOs.
- Tier 2: Peer-reviewed academic studies, reports from established international organizations (World Bank, WHO).
- Tier 3: Investigative journalism from recognized media outlets with transparent sourcing.
- Tier 4 (Insufficient on its own): Press releases from government officials, unverified social media posts.
The Moderation Process
Community submissions enter a moderation queue. An editor reviews the submitted link to ensure it matches the claim and qualifies under our evidence hierarchy. If a submission relies solely on a political statement without accompanying data, it is returned for context or rejected.