Topic Guide: Corruption in Water and Sanitation Sector

IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. http://www.ircwash.org  

A self-described “think and do”-tank, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre is a global advocate for accessible and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services. IRC works with governments, international organisations and other NGOs to address governance issues related to the water sector. The organisation has several projects in different parts of the world aimed at increasing community involvement in water governance.  

International Rivers. http://www.internationalrivers.org  

International Rivers is a non-profit organisation that advocates for healthy, sustainable river systems and promotes control and monitoring of hydroelectric infrastructure projects. International Rivers has launched several local-oriented campaigns focused on awareness of environmental and social impacts of dams and has worked together with the World Commission on Dams to put hydroelectric procurement and decision standards on the agenda of large infrastructure donors like the World Bank.  

Water Integrity Network. http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/  

WIN was founded by IRC, SIWI, Swedish Water House, Transparency International and the World Bank Water and Sanitation Programme in 2006 to respond to increasing concerns among water and anti-corruption stakeholders regarding the impact of corruption in the water sector. The network, through its partner organisations, advocates for a greater focus on issues of transparency and accountability in the water and sanitation sectors. WIN has produced a number of studies about the impact of corruption in these sectors. The network also promotes individual awareness raising and company codes of conduct to deter corruption in the water sector.  

Water Governance Facility. http://www.watergovernance.org/  

The Water Governance Facility (WGF) is a partnership between UNDP and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) established in 2005, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), serving to strengthen UNDP’s capacity to provide relevant policy support and advice to countries, and to build the knowledge and capacities for improved water governance within governments and civil society as well as among UN agencies. It implements parts of the UNDP Water and Ocean Governance Programme by encouraging and coordinating water governance support for low- and middle-income economies. The goal is for these countries to achieve socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically efficient water governance policies. It runs programmes like the Shared Water Partnership, the GoAL WaSH Programme, the Water Integrity Programme, and the Accountability for Sustainability programme, each espousing a different process for advocacy and change but all of them focused on increasing water governance.  

Stockholm International Water Institute. http://www.siwi.org/  

This Swedish think-tank and advocate for water governance and sustainability has worked closely with the UNDP and other water advocates, especially within the Water Integrity Network. This organisation has published several reports on various topics related to water sector governance and has also published a number of region- and nation-specific case studies.