Transparency and access to public information through the SAIP system.

Montevideo, April 19, 2024.

SAIP contributes to citizen participation, accountability, and transparency in the management of public agencies.

Access to public information is a fundamental right for anyone seeking to obtain information about the management of state funds. This strengthens citizen participation in political affairs and in monitoring state actions, making public management more transparent.

Different countries have made progress in implementing related laws and have also established institutions responsible for guaranteeing the protection of the right to access public information. Digital tools have been created to contribute to accountability and transparency, facilitating the evaluation of government management and performance regarding the allocation and use of public resources, thereby strengthening democratic systems.

One of these countries is Uruguay, which, through Law No. 18,381 of October 17, 2008, created the Public Information Access Unit (UAIP) as a control body that works to promote and raise awareness of the right of individuals to access public information. 

Public agencies, whether state or non-state, are required to provide public information upon request by any individual. Access requests can be made through various channels: forms available on each agency's website (Public Information Access Request Form), in person (written request submitted to the agency), via the email address provided on each agency’s website, or through the Public Information Access System (SAIP).

About SAIP

The Public Information Access System (SAIP) is a management system that allows any individual or legal entity to submit public information access requests online to obligated entities (public agencies, whether state or non-state) under the framework of Law No. 18,381.

SAIP centralizes the management and monitoring of access requests submitted to public agencies, thereby contributing to transparency and facilitating the exercise of the right to access public information.

The system has several functionalities, including: monitoring legally established response deadlines, managing the different agencies, units, users, and their roles, enabling the required functions for each case, and sending notifications to agency staff about upcoming, overdue, or pending deadlines 10 or 5 days before the submission of compliance or reserved information reports.

SAIP was designed and developed by Sofis Solutions, and the company is currently responsible for its corrective maintenance and evolution. According to Cecilia Martínez, Services Coordinator at Sofis Solutions: “During the project, the objectives were achieved both technologically and functionally. Improvements were made in request creation, generation of compliance and reserved information reports, interface design, and administrative and management functionalities of the tool.

The improvements were planned and implemented through sprints, with a version released at the end of each sprint. This methodology allowed us to plan work effectively, generating intermediate versions with incremental improvements available for use while continuing to develop new functionalities.

This has been a project successfully executed thanks to the excellent communication and teamwork between the client and Sofis.”

SAIP allows UAIP to obtain indicators such as average response time, gender, age, and origin. For obligated entities, the system enables generating and submitting compliance and reserved information reports required by law, as well as designating, uploading, and updating the data of transparency contacts according to legal requirements.

How is an access request created through SAIP?

1. The person accesses https://solicitudes.gub.uy/
2. They choose the identification method in ID Uruguay (Gub.uy User, Identity Card with Chip, Digital Identity – Abitab or TuID – Antel) and enter the credentials for the selected method.
3. Then, they click the “New Request” button and complete the available form.
4. Once the form is completed, the user clicks the “Submit” button.

The agency or executing unit has 20 business days to provide a response. Additionally, the requester can view the status and progress of their request within the system’s cycle. They will also be notified via email when the status of their request changes.

SAIP originated as an initiative of civil society and UAIP and was launched in collaboration with the Agency for Electronic Government and Information Society (AGESIC). It is part of a commitment under the second National Action Plan for Open Government (2014-2016), whose objectives were to promote citizen access to public information, transparency, and accountability in the State. Currently, the system is operational, with an increasing number of public agencies using it.