Topic Guide: Corruption in Water and Sanitation Sector

Water Governance Facility. 2017. WGF Report 6: Developing Capacities for Water Integrity: Reflective Review of Approach and Impact of Training Courses. http://watergovernance.org/resources/developing-capacities-water-integrity-reflective-review-approach-impact-training-courses/  

This report provides a reflective review of the approach to training and capacity development as a contribution to improved water governance and reduced risk of corruption in the water sector. It draws on the experience gained from implementing several regional water integrity capacity development programmes primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Although still too early to assess the long-term impact of these training initiatives, the report draws some lessons from capacity develop­ment for water integrity to date. Capacity development should be treated as a process cycle, starting with assessing the current situation, planning, implementing and above all following up and supporting the intended new capa­bilities and behaviours. The success of capacity development initiatives also relies to a large extent on their ability to be relevant and to respond to the capacity needs of the target group, and to understand the political and institutional context. Finally, it is important to sustain capacity development over time, including train­ing, but also putting greater emphasis on the institutional and societal enabling environment to promote water integrity.  

UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility & UNICEF. 2015. WASH and Accountability: A Reference Guide for Programming. Accountability for Sustainability Partnership: UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility and UNICEF. Stockholm and New York: SIWI and UNICEF. http://watergovernance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2015-UNICEF-Reference-Guide-ENG-digital-160927.pdf  

This reference guide for programming contains guidance on existing mechanisms promoting accountability, illustrated by examples of how they are currently being operationalised in different contexts. The aim of the document is to provide external support agencies with structured and concise information that can help programming support to accountability-related actions.  

OECD Water Governance Initiative. 2014. OECD Inventory: Existing Tools, Practices and Guidelines to Foster Governance in the Water Sector.http://www.oecd.org/cfe/regional-policy/Inventory.pdf 

This collection shows which tools, practices and guidelines exist to foster governance in the water sector up to 2014.  

Water Integrity Network and WaterLex International. 2013. Corruption and the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. http://www.waterlex.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-WaterLex-WIN_Corruption-and-the-HRWS-.pdf  

This joint paper elaborates a human rights-based approach to fighting corruption in the water sector. By associating corruption to a violation of a basic human right, one can potentially raise more awareness and gather more support for establishing counteractive measures. The document is especially useful for its fourth chapter on developing a legal framework to establish transparency, accountability and participation (TAP) mechanisms in water management systems, procurement and irrigation.  

UNDP. 2011. Fighting Corruption in the Water Sector: Methods, Tools and Good Practices. http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Democratic%20Governance/IP/Anticorruption%20Methods%20and%20Tools%20in%20Water%20Lo%20Res.pdf  

This study provides a comprehensive look at the nature and effects of corruption in the water sector. It describes corruption in water supply and sanitation, water management systems, irrigation and hydropower, elaborating the challenges related to each type of corruption. After mapping corruption risks in the water sector, the study presents methods and tools to measure corruption in the sector, looking in particular at increased government oversight, pro-market water sector reforms and increased user and civil society oversight. The guide concludes by providing analyses of expected and desired outcomes of anti-corruption measures in the water sector.  

Water Integrity Network. 2010. Integrity Pacts in the Water Sector: An Implementation Guide for Government Officials. http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/2015/02/26/budgeting-and-procurement-tools/  

This integrity pact implementation manual is designed to help leaders and champions within their own governments across the world who are determined to overcome corruption in public contracting, particularly in the water sector. This manual is a hands-on, practical guide to familiarise government officials in charge of public procurement processes in the water sector with the integrity pact process and to provide them with tools and ideas for its application.  

UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility, WIN, Cap-Net and WaterNet. 2009. Training Manual on Water Integrity.Stockholm: SIWI. http://www.watergovernance.org/documents/WGF/Reports/Trainin_Manual/Final_training-manual-English.pdf  

This training manual is developed to assist capacity builders in developing training and educational programmes on water integrity and how it can be promoted and worked with in more practical ways. The overall goal is to develop institutional capacities and prepare for change through increased knowledge and action on integrity, accountability and anti-corruption in any country or region. It looks at the following issues: water governance, corruption in the water sector, identifying corruption risks, anti-corruption laws, institutions and instruments, transparency and access to information, accountability, integrity in integrated water resources management.  

Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO). 2009. A Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in Basins. http://www.inbo-news.org/IMG/pdf/GWP-INBOHandbookForIWRMinBasins.pdf  

Many countries are introducing an integrated approach to water resources management at the national and basin level. This handbook provides guidance for improving the governance of freshwater resources with a particular focus on effective implementation of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach in lake, river and aquifer basins. Targeted at basin managers and government officials and non-governmental actors who are involved in basin activities, it provides guidance for integrated water resources management that can be applied in basins regardless of the context (developed or developing countries, humid or arid conditions) or the current state of water governance. In particular, the handbook: i) articulates the links between challenges and IWRM responses; ii) suggests ways of setting up or modernising basin organisations to facilitate the adoption of the IWRM approach; and iii) is practical and user-friendly with many examples of experiences in river, lake and aquifer management.