FREE ONLINE COURSE Introductory level. Self-paced (3 modules, about 12 hours) Open now An exploration of the overlooked corruption and water integrity failures contributing to poor service in informal settlements, and what to do about them. This course highlights the importance of rethinking approaches to service in low-income areas and outlines the responsibilities of sector stakeholders, in line with the human rights to water and sanitation. Participants learn to identify integrity failures in the water and sanitation sectors and to explore how these issues might affect their work in cities or peri-urban settings. The course draws on case studies from Peru, South Africa, Kenya, and more to introduce ways to strengthen integrity and reduce opportunities for corruption through transparency, accountability and participation. Course outline: Module 1: Informal settlements overview Module 2: Manifestations of integrity failures Module 3: Strengthening integrity Who is this course for? Political leaders, civil society members, human rights advocates, regulators, and water utility staff. Students and researchers in social and technical disciplines. Urban planners, engineers, and architects. Language: English or Spanish Optional Certification Participants who complete and pass the course will have the option to obtain a certificate of completion upon payment of a fee. Free Access Access to the course content and activities is completely free of charge.

xxx Abstract xxxxx --- DOWNLOAD Title Uganda Water Sector Participatory Accountability Review: Report of the National Review with Focus on the Districts of Bunyangabu, Kabarole, and Lira Author Water Integrity Network Publication date December 2025 Contributors UWASNET Abstract This report provides a comprehensive integrity and accountability assessment of Uganda’s water sector, evaluating how effectively the country’s legal and policy framework is implemented in practice. Using a de jure–de facto approach and field verification in three districts, it examines transparency and accountability in investment planning, service delivery, and environmental management. The findings reveal a persistent gap between well-defined rules and weak corrective action and implementation, with significant vulnerabilities in enforcement, procurement , financial management, water quality monitoring, and corporate governance.

When water is scarce, who decides on water allocation, and how? New research examines integrity risks in water allocation in the face of climate change, with a focus on water permittings systems. "Transparent rules, public registries of water rights, clear sustainability limits, and accessible grievance mechanisms help ensure that water allocation adapts to scarcity and climate change without systematically disadvantaging certain groups." In brief: The systems built to decide who gets water, and how much, are struggling to keep pace with the new realities of climate change and unpredictable water flows. This research looks at different water allocation system and focuses on water permits, which are particularly vulnerable to corruption and integrity risk. Evidence from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Tanzania and Spain shows that corruption, political interference, and opaque decision-making are undermining who gets access to water, and that climate change is making this worse. The paper proposes a framework for understanding integrity and integrity risks at two levels: the integrity of water allocation systems themselves, and the integrity of the administrative processes used to implement them. There is risk embedded in policy design, legal frameworks, and system structures, and these tend to disadvantage marginalised users. Fair, transparent and accountable allocation systems are essential for protecting human rights, supporting ecosystems, reducing conflict and building climate resilience. DOWNLOAD Strengthening Integrity in Water Allocation Systems in the Face of Climate Change June 2026 This research was supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). Keywords: Water allocation | Water permits | Water governance | Water resource management | Water corruption | Climate adaptation | Water integrity | Regulation Suggested citation: Galvin, M.; Schreiner, B.; van Koppen, B. (2026). Strengthening Integrity in Water Allocation Systems in the Face of Climate Change. Water Integrity Research. Berlin: Water Integrity Network (WIN). As climate change intensifies droughts, floods and uncertainty, difficult decisions about who gets access to water are becoming increasingly common. Drawing on academic literature alongside in-depth practitioner interviews, this research looks at the systems built to manage these tough decisions and exposes their vulnerabilities. The paper looks at transboundary water allocation systems and national allocation systems. It zooms in on water permits, showing significant integrity risks at each stage of the water permitting cycle. These include burdensome application requirements that exclude small-scale and marginalised users; bribery to expedite permits or weaken conditions; manipulation of water availability models to justify allocations; political interference in decision-making; and selective enforcement that protects powerful users while penalising smaller ones. These are integrity risks to how the system is used and implemented in practice. There are also integrity risks in how the systems are conceived and financed. Interviews reveal how deep, systematic failures and exclusions can be built into the system. Climate change amplifies existing integrity risks. Increased scarcity raises the stakes of every allocation decision. Emergency or drought-response powers can be misused to bypass normal protections. Historical hydrological data is becoming less reliable, creating new opportunities for model manipulation. And already-marginalised groups are most exposed when water is scarce. Urgent action is needed to strengthen our systems. There are some good examples to learn from, including Kenya's tiered permit system that deliberately reduces administrative burden on small users, or community-based collective water concessions in Mexico. Based on these examples and more, the paper closes with practical recommendations for integrity, for government officials, civil society, international organisations, and donors working on water governance reform, water tenure, and climate adaptation.

Join us to achieve SDGs through transparency and collective action. 65+ global partners committed to a just world with decent water access. Become a WIN partner Application form A global network for integrity action WIN is a global, open network of individuals and organisations. We bring people together with integrity as a guiding principle, to improve water management and service delivery. We work with more than 65 partners from all over the world, including civil society organisations, international development organisations, sector funders, water and sanitation service providers, regulators, and associations. Formal WIN partners publicly commit to launching integrity initiatives and are supported by the WIN team. Partnership is a voluntary process to strengthen collaboration and exchange. Funding is not guaranteed. READ WIN PARTNERSHIP POLICY READ CODE OF CONDUCT FOR WIN PARTNERS Please tell us about your organisation and how we can contact you Organisation* First name of contact person Last name of contact person Email* Address of organisation Organisation website Where do you work? (Geographical scope) What do you do? Please tell us more about why you want to join WIN and about your work on integrity Why does your organisation wish to join the Water Integrity Network?* How does your organisation wish to engage with the network? Joint advocacy Joint research Knowledge sharing, discussions, working groups Using or promoting integrity tools Other Which areas of work are you most keen to explore? Climate adaptation Urban water Sanitation and CWIS Rural WASH and community-based water and sanitation Water and sanitation finance Water allocation and resource management Other Does your organisation already promote integrity in the water and sanitation sectors, and if so, how (specific examples are appreciated)?* I have read and agree to the WIN partnership policy I have read and will respect the WIN partner code of conduct I affirm that my organisation does not discriminate or exclude groups or individuals and is not convicted for human rights violations or corruption. Yes, please subscribe me to the WIN mailing list to receive newsletters and event invitations Submit

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Training and open, online courses on water integrity, integrity for water and sanitation in informal settlements, utilities, regulators, government, and more Water Integrity Academy FREE online self-paced courses on integrity for people working in or studying water and sanitation. Bespoke presentations and training on integrity risks and tools. GET IN TOUCH Online courses What we do? ONLINE COURSES HYBRID COURSES TAILORED TRAINING DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE COURSES FAQ Online courses 1 2 To suggest new training topics, get answers, or share feedback, get in touch! CONTACT WIN FAQ Why follow a course on water integrity? Integrity plays a crucial and overlooked role in improving water and sanitation financing and programme development. WIN training will help water and sanitation professionals better understand the risks that can undermine their work and their institution’s reputation. Participants will also learn to identify the root causes of corruption and poor integrity, develop innovative approaches, and deliver projects that are more transparent, accountable, and participatory. How do I enroll? To register for online courses, click on the descriptions of the course(s) you wish to enroll in and follow the registration links. Most courses are held on the Moodle educational platform for which you will need to register using your email address. What are the requirements to join a course? WIN’s online courses are for anyone who would like to learn more about integrity and corruption in the water and sanitation sectors, and no prior knowledge or experience is required. An internet connection and device to access the courses are the only technical requirements. How can I get a certificate? All of our online courses offer the option to obtain a certificate of completion. Once you have successfully completed all the course requirements and met the passing criteria, you will be eligible to request your certificate. Certificates are issued upon payment of a fee, which can be made after you have completed the course. Does WIN offer any in-person courses? Currently, all free courses are being offered online only, where participants can join at their own pace. WIN does provide (paid) bespoke trainings to organisations on demand. To explore opportunities for collaboration, please contact the WIN programme lead for capacity development at info@win-s.org DOWNLOAD CURRENT COURSE CATALOGUE (English) DESCARGAR EL CATÁLOGO DE CURSOS (en español) "Being a water professional who is into designing of treatment processes and analysis, this course gave me a different perspective on how water integrity can be achieved and how corruption stopped in an organisation. This is very important when tackling SDGs." Water Integrity Basics course participant, UAE More courses - coming soon Stay in the loop Sign up for notifications when new courses and sessions open. Email* Do you have a preferred language for courses? Select options for specific notifications New topics, new courses Integrity basics Service in informal settlements Submit