Selected links – February

Water Integrity News Roundup

Here are links to some of the most striking stories we’ve been reading about in February 2020. Please share your views in the comments or get in touch to share information and material for the next round-up. Thank you!

The links here go to original material on external websites. WIN is not responsible for the accuracy of external content.

 

Anti-corruption and water issues are topping the charts (or at least the surveys)

The World Economic Forum has been putting water crises and issues in the list of most pressing global risks for nearly a decade already. Interestingly in 2020, the Forum’s youth wing, the Global Shapers (a network people aged under 30) put water crises even higher on the list, especially in terms of impact.

What else are youth concerned about and what might contribute most to progress? In the African Youth Survey 2020, respondents put anti-corruption at the top of their list, and access to basic services not far behind.

 

survey results - source African Youth Survey 2020 - what in the next five years will be most important for Africa's progress: 1. reducing government corruption, 2. creating new jobs, 3. Achieving peace and stability in Africa, 4. Increasing access to basic services...

 

Is this a sign that water integrity is the key issue of the future and an essential strategy to achieve our development goals? 🙂

We think so of course and the results of the 2019 RBC Global Asset Management Responsible Investment Survey suggest that institutional investors may agree: “About two-thirds of about 800 institutional investors surveyed in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia said concerns over water factored into their investment decisions, placing it behind only cybersecurity and anti-corruption as a top Environmental, Social and Governance consideration” said the Vice President of the organization in a post.

And there’s reason to be concerned. A practical example from the water sector came up in another interesting study from February, in which RWSN and Skat Foundation concluded that the biggest challenges water well drillers face are: “(i) lack of capacity in the drilling industry , (ii) inappropriate contracts and standards, (iii) lack of transparency in the procurement process, (iv) finance resulting from unrealistic pricing and delayed payment by the government, (v) corruption in the bidding process, (vi) lack of data, (vii) logistics (long distances between contract locations) and (viii) the non-availability of quality spare parts, which is common to five countries (Angola, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda)” (emphasis is ours).

We’re taking note!

 

Diverted Resources: the Dynamics of Capture

Water integrity means ensuring resources and services go where they are intended – and most needed – so that water is fairly and sustainably managed.

When resources go astray or are inadequately distributed because of undue influence, we have failures of integrity. These can have dramatic consequences. This past month we’ve seen a number of examples that shed light on the dynamics and scale of capture.

 

More links and case information

These articles also caught are eye and we’re keen to hear more about the issues and initiatives. Please don’t hesitate to share more links and resources with us.

 

What can you do?

You can take simple steps to launch an integrity change process. Here are the tools to help you.

Stay informed

Sign up for our newsletter for bimonthly updates on the activities of the network worldwide.

Tell us your story

Are you promoting water integrity in your organization or in your region? Tell us how and help the network learn from your achievements.

Learn from experience

See how people and organizations are changing the water sector with integrity.