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ONLINE COURSE Introductory level. Self paced (3 modules, 12 hours) Coming soon More details coming soon Who is this course for? Political decision-makers, professionals, civil society advocates, regulatory entities, and water and sanitation utility staff. Students and researchers in social and technical disciplines. Urban planners, engineers, and architects. Language English and Spanish Free Access Access to the course content and activities is completely free. Optional paid certification Participants who successfully complete and pass the course can obtain a certificate of completion upon payment of a fee.

Integrity indicators and reporting frameworks for regulators to supervise service providers. WHEN TO USE IT To raise awareness on integrity risks and their negative impact on the performance of service providers and show paths for building integrity To incentivise water and sanitation service providers for integrity To benchmark and set standards for crucial integrity measures that can benefit service providers HOW IT WORKS The indicator framework can be used by regulators with input from water service providers under their purview. HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED The indicator framework has been developed by the Consortium for Integrity in Latin America (WIN, IVL, and cewas) with support from the Inter-American Development Bank.

by Savithri Sellapperumage; Barbara Schreiner, Executive Director, Water Integrity Network; Aaron Salzburg, CEO, The American Water Resources Association; Nick Hepworth, Strategic Advisor, Water Witness International; Nchedi Moripe Photo credit: David Yarasca / Salud con lupa. Aerial view of the Ica region of Peru shows agro-export agricultural fields irrigated through extensive groundwater pumping, juxtaposed with neighbourhood communities facing scarce and contaminated water supplies. In a previous blog titled Unequal Waters: Why water poverty is a problem of power, not governance failure, it was emphasised that the water crisis goes beyond a crisis of political will, technical and fiscal capacity, or governance. It is rather the result of structural and systemically reinforced inequalities, driven by unequal access to power and a failure of accountability. Six mechanisms, namely; political exclusion, resource capture, rights denial, knowledge suppression, process capture and social reproduction, form a self-reinforcing loop that traps communities in water insecurity across generations. While these mechanisms help diagnose the underlying conditions, what could be the treatment? The three-part seminar series at Stockholm Water Week 2026 attempted to address these reinforcing mechanisms by setting out principles for just water transformations. These principles moving beyond proposing improved efficiency in the continuation of current systems, urging us to rather address the existing power structures. The principles address the need to change who holds power, where resources flow, whose knowledge counts, and who is accountable to whom. These ideas are capture in eight principles; six directly address the mechanisms of the Inequality Trap, while the remaining two look beyond the water sector and push us to reflect on our own roles, assumptions, and responsibilities in shaping just water futures. The eight principles: Shift power. Put people experiencing water insecurity at the centre of decisions that affect them. Move beyond consultation towards meaningful representation, shared power, community leadership and accountability. Allocate fairly. Direct water, finance and infrastructure toward people and places with the greatest need, not those with the greatest influence. Today, unconnected households often pay multiple folds more for water than wealthier, networked communities. Make rights real. Indigenous communities, and those in informal housing are rendered invisible and often have no legal standing to challenge utilisation and allocation of their own water. We need to strengthen equitable enforcement, and accountability is what turns a right on paper into a right in practice. Democratise knowledge. Hydrological monitoring gaps leave the most vulnerable communities invisible in the data that shapes investment decisions. In order to close that gap, we must validate lived experiences and Indigenous knowledge alongside technical expertise, and enable these invisible data to be accessible. Make participation count. Multi-stakeholder platforms often legitimise decisions that have already been made, while barriers of class and language exclude the communities most affected. Participation has to be judged by ability to influence, not attendance. Break the cycle. Water insecurity follows gender, class and caste systems, and geography affecting marginalised communities through generations. As a result, women in marginalised communities are mainly responsible for collecting water and may even be denied access to public water systems such as the Dalit communities in India. Breaking that cycle means connecting water policies and action, to health, social protection, land rights and historical legacies. Turn the lens on ourselves. Inequalities are embedded and maintained in institutions and systems. This does not exempt us from reflecting on our own ways of working. Who gets funded? Who leads? Whose expertise counts, and in which language? The water sector’s funding strcutures, conferences, research and networks can reproduce the very inequalities we are trying to solve. Align with other struggles. Water insecurity is shaped by forces outside the water sector. Historical dispossession, concentration of power, lack of accountablity, and an unequal global political economy in which trade, tax, and debt regulations favour profits over water rights. These issues cannot be fixed with tools within the water sector alone. Solving them requires us to build alliances and cross-sectoral commitments on, for example, tax justice, trade rules, land, and labour rights. How does this look like in practice? Applying these principles looks different depending on different actors. For governments, it means reforming trax, trade regulations and subsidies that produce water insecurities, while protecting and expanding civic space and platforms that allow communities to hold those in power accountable. For donors and finance institutions, it means supporting governments' ability to realise the human rights to water and sanitation, recognising that these burdens are often linked to past development financing models. For business and corporations, it means adopting water justice not as an act of philanthropy or corporate social responsibility but a condition of legitimate business, and paying the full social and ecological costs of water use, rather than externalising the costs onto communities, the environment or future generations. For civil society and NGO’s it means, building collective power and investing in community agency to claim rights that exist on paper. For researchers, it means protecting scientific independence, academic freedom and recognising lived knowledge as evidence in its own. And for those working in the water sector, it means accepting where own instituions concentrate power rather than sharing it. However, the challenge of application comes at a precarious moment. Cuts to development assistance and geopolitical turmoil across the globe have exposed communities to further vulnerabilities and climate change is deepening insecurities for those least responsible for it. Water inequalities, if built by systems and institutions around us, should strive to dismantle them too, but only if we are willing to look beyond the water sector at the same time turn the lens on ourselves first. These ideas are brought together in the background paper Forging a Fair Water Future produced as part of the seminar series held at Stockholm. We invite you to engage with the paper by sending your comments to: nickhepworth@waterwitness.org

Upcoming Water Integrity Global Outlook on water and sanitation adaptation and maladaptation - a deep dive into strategies to mitigate corruption and integrity risks in climate work in the water and sanitation sectors CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MALADAPTATION Water Integrity Global Outlook 4 A new report due in 2027. Join the journey, share your feedback and questions! GET IN TOUCH Corruption compounds climate risks. Water and sanitation integrity is key to resilience. Climate change is intensifying pressure on water and sanitation systems—especially where integrity is already fragile. The fourth edition of the Water Integrity Global Outlook, WIN’s flagship triannual report, will dive into how integrity in climate adaptation can build more resilient communities, water infrastructure, and systems. Recognising global power imbalances and economic injustices, WIGO4 will also look at the need to urgently mitigate integrity risks in the water and sanitation sector planning, financing, and management, to cope and prepare for coming challenges. WIGO4 will be published in 2027. Stay tuned! New working paper Different integrity issues and corruption exacerbate vulnerability to climate change and undermine adaptation processes. They also can lead to maladaptation. A new WIN research paper proposes definitions, risk frameworks and adaptation principles to ground the discussion. READ RESEARCH WIN is now starting up research and discussions with partners and stakeholders. Do share your feedback, questions, and ideas with us here: First name Last name Name of organisation Email* Share your feedback or questions Would you like us to keep you in the loop on this WIGO initiative? Submit Latest insight on water and sanitation climate adaptation Climate Finance: Where is the money going and is it really ensuring water resilience? Integrity in water allocation systems in the face of climate change Climate adaptation finance: Where is the money going and is it really working? Local governments are the frontline implementers for water and sanitation climate adaptation: they need integrity Who gets what water? Water allocation, water permitting and corruption in a changing climate Integrity risks in water and sanitation climate adaptation 1 2 3 4 5 Praise for the WIGO series “ WIGO2024 is forging a resilient future, where accountability and ethical practices safeguard our most vital resource. Through its exploration of the synergy between water, finance, and integrity, WIGO2024 will inspire you to cherish water, fortify decision-making, and promote transparency and good governance. Together, we can create a world where water thrives and generations flourish.” Amgad Elmahdi, Regional Manager, Green Climate Fund JOIN US Join us at upcoming events No events at the moment Spread the word on social #IntegrityInEveryDrop Share the report and messages on social media, send us your questions. Become a WIN partner Together we can make integrity the norm Formal partners commit to integrity in the work they do for water and sanitation Apply for partnership

Water Integrity Global Outlook 3 - Integrity for Water and Sanitation finance - new report on integrity risks that increase the water and sanitation funding gap and compromise sustainability - with recommendations and examples on how to lead sector reforms that work to safeguard and attract new financing. INTEGRITY FOR WATER AND SANITATION FINANCE Water Integrity Global Outlook 3 Practical insights to ensure fair and transparent financing for sustainable water and sanitation. DOWNLOAD NEW REPORT EN ESPAÑOL Confronting corruption for sustainable water and sanitation To achieve SDG 6, tripling investments and improving governance are essential. In practice, this is not so straightforward. Corruption remains a major, overlooked barrier to progress , driving inefficiency and inequity in water and sanitation services. This Water Integrity Global Outlook (WIGO 3) shines a light on these pervasive challenges across the budget cycle. The report offers practical solutions to ensure that investments are well managed and effectively lead to sustainable and equitable outcomes . A must-read for water sector professionals, decision-makers, and funders dedicated to driving real change. Download Water Integrity Global Outlook 3: Improving Integrity for Water and Sanitation Finance Find out: Where is the money? What integrity risks threaten it? How do we use existing funds better? How do we improve integrity in water and sanitation organisations and utilities? What role for civil society and regulators in ensuring accountability? DOWNLOAD WIGO3: FINANCE DOWNLOAD SUMMARY IN SPANISH DOWNLOAD SUMMARY IN FRENCH New! Regional analysis Water Integrity Global Outlook: Finance - Latin America What can utilities do to control integrity risks in service delivery in low-income areas? To ensure rural water supply, how can we improve the relationships between local stakeholders like municipalities and water committees? How do we strengthen accountability in new management and financial models for service provision, especially when decision-making is decentralised? DOWNLOAD WIGO3: LATIN AMERICA IN SPANISH DOWNLOAD WIGO3: LATIN AMERICA IN ENGLISH Latest insight on water and sanitation finance Water and sanitation PPP reforms: best practices for integrity and accountability Strengthening financial integrity in water and sanitation utilities in Latin America ¿Cómo fortalecer la integridad financiera en las empresas prestadoras de agua y saneamiento en América Latina? Do-it-yourself water? The benefits and pitfalls of self-supply for water and sanitation To provide reliable and sustainable water and sanitation, dive into open contracting What it takes to stop throwing money down the drain in water and sanitation work 1 2 3 What's in the report Addressing corruption and integrity failures in water and sanitation financing is critical to ensuring the efficient use of available funds —and the improvement of service delivery. The cost of inaction on integrity is unacceptably high. By far the greatest source of funding for water and sanitation is from water users, followed by government, although there are significant regional variations. Someone always pays. The most poor often pay more. Shrinking civic space and climate change are compounding the integrity challenges in water and sanitation finance. Inadequate participation and limited civic infrastructure are skewing sector investment. Climate change adds costs. Climate adaptation work does have new financing sources but integrity risks are high, especially in emergency situations. Action for integrity is possible and effective at different levels - within projects, within organisations, as well as in local and national financial management systems. There are integrity risks across the budget cycle. In response, focusing on procurement risks is important, but insufficient. Project and infrastructure planning, as well as tariff design need more attention. Better internal management of service providers, including for non-revenue water programmes and financial management, is also key. Effective integrity action combines three pathways for change. Digital innovation can boost all three of these pathways. Ensuring there is 'no reason ' and no rationalisation of corrupt behaviour, Putting in place processes and oversight to leave 'no room ' for corrupt acts, and Detecting and sanctioning corruption so there can be 'no reprieve '. Starting today, there are three major opportunities for change: Strengthening public financial management ; Enabling stakeholder engagement in water and sanitation; and Promoting a culture of integrity for water and sanitation. There is expertise and support available from oversight institutions, as well as open government and anti-corruption organisations. Making sure the water and sanitation sectors builds links with these organisations is vital. All water and sanitation stakeholders have a role to play - decision-makers, utilities and service providers, regulators, funders, and civil society. By addressing corruption and integrity challenges head-on, with honesty and collaboration, we can ensure investments in water and sanitation lead to sustainable, equitable outcomes for all. Different sources of finance for water and sanitation and the major trends affecting their management: climate change, shrinking civic space, and AI. Integrity risks in water and sanitation finance across the budget cycle, from budget allocation to accounting for the money spent. The 3Rs for effective integrity strategies in water and sanitation finance: No Reason, No Room, No Reprieve Recommendations for action by all stakeholders, to strengthen public financial management, engage with civil society, and build a culture of integrity. “ WIGO2024 is forging a resilient future, where accountability and ethical practices safeguard our most vital resource. Through its exploration of the synergy between water, finance, and integrity, WIGO2024 will inspire you to cherish water, fortify decision-making, and promote transparency and good governance. Together, we can create a world where water thrives and generations flourish.” Amgad Elmahdi, Regional Manager, Green Climate Fund JOIN US Join us at upcoming events WIGO3 CSO Discussion Feburary 27, 2025 at 12 PM EAT Online webinar Register Spread the word on social #IntegrityInEveryDrop Share the report and messages on social media, send us your questions. Become a WIN partner Together we can make integrity the norm Formal partners commit to integrity in the work they do for water and sanitation Apply for partnership

Wasser ist Leben. Sanitäre Einrichtungen bedeuten Menschenwürde. Lassen Sie nicht zu, dass Korruption den Zugang zu sauberem Wasser und sanitären Einrichtungen behindert. Spenden Sie heute. Unterstützen Sie das Water Integrity Network (WIN), um Transparenz und Integrität in die Wasser- und Sanitärversorgung zu bringen und nachhaltige, saubere Dienstleistungen für alle zu gewährleisten. Warum Ihre Spende wichtig ist Gemeinsam können wir sicherstellen, dass finanzielle Mittel dort ankommen, wo sie gebraucht werden: bei den Menschen. Ihre Unterstützung hilft uns, Institutionen und Programme im Wassersektor zu stärken und Wasser- sowie Abwassersysteme gegen die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels zu schützen. Ihre Spende bewirkt konkret: Stärkung lokaler Partner in Bangladesch, Kenia, Mexiko und Uganda, um Korruption zu bekämpfen und die Verantwortlichen für ihre Versprechen hinsichtlich der Wasser- und Sanitärversorgung zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen. Forschung zu Korruptionsrisiken, damit unsere Partner wirksame, faktenbasierte Strategien gegen Misswirtschaft entwickeln können. Praktische Unterstützung für Wasseranbieter und Institutionen, um Transparenz zu fördern, Interessenkonflikte zu vermeiden und Beschaffungsprozesse sicherer zu machen. Schulungen und Wissensaustausch, um Fachleute im Wassersektor für Integrität zu sensibilisieren und Institutionen zu stärken. Gemeinsam für eine gerechte Zukunft! Indem Sie unsere Arbeit unterstützen, tragen Sie zu einer Welt bei, in der Wasser verantwortungsbewusst bewirtschaftet wird und jeder Mensch fairen und nachhaltigen Zugang zu sauberem Wasser und sanitären Einrichtungen hat. Kontaktieren Sie uns! Möchten Sie mehr über unsere Strategie und Aktivitäten erfahren? Barbara Schreiner, WIN Vorstand Alt Moabit 91b, 10559 Berlin, Deutschland info@win-s.org +49 30 809 246 130 WIN e.V. ist ein in Deutschland eingetragener gemeinnütziger Verein. Wir legen transparent Rechenschaft über unsere Finanzen ab, inklusive jährlicher Prüfungen durch eine Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft. Danke Ihre Unterstützung verändert den Wassersektor zum Besseren! "WIN is a niche network of partners that expand and share knowledge on the integrity issues facing the water sector. This is crucial input to national and international discourses on integrity and water and sanitation. WIN achieves impact that Sida assesses is well beyond its small size." Ylva Schwinn, Programme Specialist - WASH, Sida (2024)