SUPPORTING LEADING WATER AND SANITATION UTILITIES TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND PERFORMANCE THROUGH INTEGRITY DATES 2014-Current LOCATION(S) Global PARTNERS Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), SIWI, cewas, NGO Forum, GIZ WHAT IT'S ABOUT Water and sanitation service providers face high integrity risks in all their operations and across the value chain of water projects. Nepotism, accounting fraud, collusion in procurement, cutting corners in construction, extortion for permits and licenses, speed money for repairs, for connections, for a favourable meter reading. The examples are numerous and from across the globe. More than 15 per cent of respondents to a national household survey in Guatemala said they paid a bribe when they sought a water connection or reconnection. In Kenya, over 50 per cent of households surveyed in Nairobi felt their bills were unfair, 20 per cent said they paid their bills regardless of the accuracy (in order to avoid disconnection) and 66 per cent said they had had a water-related corruption experience in the past year. - Transparency International, Global Corruption Report 2008 As they operate as natural monopolies, implement technically complex projects with high initial capital and maintenance costs, employ large teams of people, and are accountable to multiple stakeholders in a sector which is notoriously fragmented, water and sanitation service providers are also especially vulnerable and closed to meaningful participation and oversight processes. When the risks materialize, corruption can result in substantial financial losses, poor quality infrastructure, reduced quality and availability of services. Those who suffer most are the poorest and most marginalised, who tend to pay more for inadequate service. There's a lot at stake for utilities. There is also a lot that can be done to proactively assess and manage risks. There are practical tools for financial controls, customer service or human resource management, that support integrity in water service delivery and minimise corruption risks. WIN provides training and support to service providers in strengthening integrity within their work processes using InWASH and related tools to assess gaps in integrity practices and develop action plans with the commitment and input of staff. With our partners we've worked in over 30 utilities worldwide, especially across Latin America with the Consortium for Water Integrity in Latin America, Kenya with GIZ and KEWASNET, and Bangladesh with NGO Forum. We also collaborate on research to understand integrity risks and their impact. A recent study with the IDB shows that strong anti-corruption and integrity measures can contribute to substantial savings and reduce delays in implementation . More recent studies focus on risks related to service delivery in informal settlements and City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation. With integrity assessments and integrity management, water utilities and sector organisations workign with us have: Increased revenue and financial stability Identified critical business weaknesses and aligned with international best practice Streamlined processes and built trust from users TOOLS InWASH - the complete integrity management toolbox for water utilities PUBLICATIONS On the impact of integrity management tools: In Spanish: Control y gestión de la integridad en el sector de agua y saneamiento a través de los sistemas de evaluación del desempeño La caja de herramientas para la gestión de la integridad del sector de agua: Un instrumento de gestión del cambio: Resultados y lecciones aprendidas Case studies: FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED Contact our programme coordinator

Around the world, residents of many large cities are facing warnings of "day-zero" conditions for their water supply. These warnings often come with water restrictions, cut-offs, and concerns about water quality. While climate change and historic droughts are frequently cited as causes, mismanagement and lack of preparedness are also significant factors, though these are less commonly discussed. Even less attention is given to issues of integrity and corruption, yet these lie at the heart of the water scarcity crisis in cities. With accountability in mind, key questions arise: How are resources and funds managed to prevent or address water shortages? Who bears the brunt of the impacts? Who controls the data that guides decisions? Are resources allocated fairly, and how are priorities set? Who makes these decisions, and by what process? At Integrity Talk 11, we explored these questions and the intersection of accountability and urban water scarcity, focusing on Latin America. Featured speakers: Emilie Dupuits (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) Fermín Reygadas Robles Gil (Cántaro Azul) Cody Copeland (Environmental Journalist, Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Gonzalo Meschengieser (Cámara Argentina del Agua) Tamara Luengo (Aqueducto) Moderator: Jorge Alberto Arriaga Medina, Executive Coordinator, CERSHI This summary highlights key points from Integrity Talk 11, organised by the Water Integrity Network (WIN) and UNESCO's Regional Water Security Center (CERSHI), held online on June 26, 2024. Video to follow! --- Takeaways Collaborative efforts are essential: Addressing urban water scarcity demands collaboration between governments, academic institutions, and civil society organisations. Clear policies and funding are vital to support these efforts. Transparency and accountability build trust: Transparent water management practices (which make monitoring possible) and strong accountability mechanisms (to ensure responsibilities are clear and acted on) are critical for building public trust and ensuring resources are used efficiently. Technology and innovation drive progress: Advancements in technology, such as sophisticated monitoring systems and data analytics, offer significant opportunities to improve water management. Investment in research and development should be a priority. Community engagement ensures effectiveness: Involving local and indigenous communities in water management ensures that initiatives meet real needs and foster a sense of ownership and responsibility. --- Addressing Water Scarcity through Collaboration Jorge Arriaga: Collaboration is key to tackling water scarcity in cities, requiring active participation from governments, academia, and civil society. Governments must create frameworks that encourage collaboration to assess and manage water scarcity with clear policies and funding for joint projects . Academic institutions can provide research and innovative solutions, while civil society organisations play a critical role in advocating for sustainable practices, highlighting areas of need, and holding authorities accountable. Emilie Dupuits: Collaboration not only fosters innovation but also allows for the sharing of best practices, which is crucial for addressing complex water issues. Community-based solutions must be addressed as well as nature-based solutions, especially in regions like Ecuador, where local and indigenous communities play a crucial role in water management. These communities manage water according to principles of reciprocity, territoriality, and culture, often voluntarily. For example, they have taken on the task of conserving water sources in the “páramos” because this leads to greater water availability for productive activities and for drinking water. Tamara Luengo: In Mexico City, water scarcity is more a result of poor management than resource availability . Improved management practices could significantly alleviate the city's water crisis. --- The Role of Transparency and Accountability Fermín Reygadas: Transparency in water management is essential for building public trust and ensuring efficient resource use. Accountability mechanisms are necessary to help in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of policies and actions, leading to continuous improvement. In Mexico, despite good national water laws, enforcement is weak . For example, very little investment is made in inspecting, sanctioning, and monitoring water quality , which leads to overexploitation and contamination of water resources. Water is increasingly being extracted from deeper sources where there is more arsenic. This has severe health repercussions. Also, there is a focus on rapid investments like constructing large dams instead of addressing root causes such as over-extraction and pollution. “Without transparency and accountability for addressing water management, the cycle of ineffective practices will continue.” - Fermín Reygadas Cody Copeland: Without transparency and accountability, it is challenging to gain public support and ensure that water management practices are fair and just. These principles are fundamental to good governance and sustainable water management. In Mexico, political polarisation weakens efforts to hold authorities accountable . There is a false perception of hope when polarisation deflects criticism from those in power, weakening efforts to hold them accountable. For example, there is a new environmental regulation in Mexico City (Batres Law), which ostensibly aims to protect environmental areas but includes clauses that allow for land-use changes in conservation zones. In this sense, journalists are essential in bringing data to the public, enabling citizens to hold government officials accountable for their actions. In a polarised political climate, the role of the independent media becomes even more critical as it can cut through the rhetoric and provide factual information to the public. "It's not just about having laws and regulations in place; it's about ensuring these laws are transparent and that there are clear accountability mechanisms to enforce them. When citizens can see and understand how decisions are made and have the power to hold officials accountable, it leads to better governance and more sustainable water management practices." - Cody Copeland --- Leveraging Technology and Innovation Tamara Luengo: Technology offers numerous opportunities to improve water management, from advanced monitoring systems to data analytics that help us to understand usage patterns, detect leaks, and optimise resource allocation. Gonzalo Meschengieser: Latin America faces significant inequality and urbanisation challenges, including the provision of water to large numbers of people in informal settlements. Water scarcity is more often a crisis of management rather than the actual availability of water. Investing in research and developing new technologies is essential for creating efficient and sustainable water management systems. Innovation drives progress and can significantly reduce the impacts of water scarcity. --- The Importance of Community Engagement Emilie Dupuits: Community engagement ensures that water management initiatives address the genuine needs of the people. The active participation from communities in decision-making processes fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, leading to more successful and sustainable outcomes. Here’s an example illustrating the complexity of dynamics at play. There is a significant challenge in providing water security to urban areas to the detriment of rural communities and often compromising the water security of rural and indigenous communities, who themselves have historically protected the vital ecosystems in catchment areas. “There is a need for justice in water security and the importance of recognising and valuing the conservation efforts of rural and indigenous communities to maintain a balanced and equitable approach.” - Emilie Dupuits Fermín Reygadas: Community engagement helps to raise awareness about water issues and encourages responsible water usage. When people understand the challenges and are involved in water management, they are more likely to support and contribute to solutions. --- Integrating Water Management with Urban Planning Jorge Arriaga: Integrating water management policies with broader urban planning and development strategies ensures that water considerations are included in all aspects of city growth. This holistic approach is necessary for creating resilient and sustainable urban environments. Tamara Luengo: Policymakers need to coordinate water resources planning with urban planning to avoid conflicts and ensure sustainable water use . Coordinated efforts between different sectors and departments are crucial to create cohesive strategies that address both water management and urban development needs. Without such integration, water policies may fail to support broader city planning objectives, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for sustainable growth. Photo: Pexels - Luis Quintero https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-gray-faucet-2339722/

En todo el mundo, los habitantes de grandes ciudades enfrentan numerosas alertas sobre posibles "días cero" en el suministro de agua. Estas alertas suelen ir acompañadas de restricciones en el consumo, como cortes de agua, y de preocupaciones sobre la calidad del agua. Si bien el cambio climático y las sequías históricas se citan con frecuencia como causas, la mala gestión y la falta de preparación son también factores significativos, aunque menos discutidos. Aún menos atención se presta a los temas de integridad y corrupción, que están en el centro de la crisis de escasez de agua en las ciudades. Surgen preguntas clave: ¿Cómo se gestionan los recursos y los fondos para prevenir o abordar la escasez de agua? ¿Quién se lleva el peso de los impactos? ¿Quién controla los datos que guían las decisiones? ¿Se asignan los recursos de manera justa, y cómo se establecen las prioridades? ¿Quién toma estas decisiones y bajo qué proceso? La Charla de Integridad 11 de WIN exploró la intersección entre la rendición de cuentas y la escasez de agua urbana en América Latina. Con la participación de: Emilie Dupuits (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) Fermín Reygadas Robles Gil (Cántaro Azul) Cody Copeland (Periodista Ambiental, Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Gonzalo Meschengieser (Cámara Argentina del Agua) Tamara Luengo (Aqueducto) Moderador: Jorge Alberto Arriaga Medina, Coordinador Ejecutivo, CERSHI Este resumen destaca los puntos clave de la Charla de Integridad 11, organizado por la Red de Integridad de Agua (WIN, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Centro Regional de Seguridad Hídrica de la UNESCO (CERSHI), realizado en línea el 26 de junio de 2024. --- Puntos Clave Los esfuerzos colaborativos son esenciales: Abordar la escasez de agua en áreas urbanas requiere la colaboración entre gobiernos, instituciones académicas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Es vital contar con políticas claras y financiamiento adecuado para apoyar estos esfuerzos. La transparencia y la rendición de cuentas construyen confianza: Las prácticas transparentes de gestión del agua (que permiten el monitoreo) y los mecanismos sólidos de rendición de cuentas (para garantizar responsabilidades claras y que estas se cumplan) son fundamentales para construir la confianza pública y garantizar el uso eficiente de los recursos. La tecnología y la innovación impulsan el progreso: Los avances en tecnología, como los sistemas de monitoreo sofisticados y el análisis de datos, ofrecen oportunidades significativas para mejorar la gestión del agua. La inversión en investigación y desarrollo debe ser una prioridad. La participación comunitaria garantiza la eficacia: Involucrar a las comunidades locales y pueblos originarios en la gestión del agua asegura que las iniciativas respondan a las necesidades reales y fomenten un sentido de pertenencia y responsabilidad. --- Abordando la Escasez de Agua a Través de la Colaboración Jorge Arriaga: La colaboración es clave para abordar la escasez hídrica en ciudades, y requiere la participación activa de gobiernos, instituciones académicas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Los gobiernos deben crear marcos que fomenten la colaboración, con políticas claras y financiamiento para proyectos conjuntos. Las instituciones académicas pueden aportar investigación y soluciones innovadoras, mientras que las organizaciones de la sociedad civil juegan un papel crítico en abogar por prácticas sostenibles, destacar áreas de necesidad y responsabilizar a las autoridades. Emilie Dupuits: La colaboración no solo fomenta la innovación, sino que también permite el intercambio de mejores prácticas, lo cual es crucial para abordar los complejos problemas del agua. Las soluciones basadas en la comunidad deben ser abordadas, al igual que las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza, especialmente en regiones como Ecuador, donde las comunidades locales e indígenas juegan un papel crucial en la gestión del agua. Estas comunidades gestionan el agua según principios de reciprocidad, territorialidad y cultura, a menudo de manera voluntaria. Por ejemplo, se han encargado de conservar las fuentes de agua en los páramos, probocando una mayor disponibilidad de agua potable y para las actividades productivas. Tamara Luengo: En la Ciudad de México, la escasez hídrica es más un resultado de la mala gestión que de la disponibilidad del recurso. Mejorar las prácticas de gestión podría aliviar significativamente la crisis del agua en la ciudad. --- El Papel de la Transparencia y la Rendición de Cuentas Fermín Reygadas: La transparencia en la gestión del agua es esencial para construir confianza pública y garantizar el uso eficiente de los recursos. Los mecanismos de rendición de cuentas son necesarios para ayudar en la supervisión y evaluación de la efectividad de las políticas y acciones, lo que lleva a una mejora continua. En México, a pesar de contar con buenas leyes nacionales sobre el agua, la aplicación es débil. Por ejemplo, se invierte muy poco en la inspección, sanción y monitoreo de la calidad del agua, lo que lleva a la sobreexplotación y contaminación de los recursos hídricos. El agua se extrae cada vez más de fuentes profundas, donde hay más arsénico, lo que tiene graves repercusiones para la salud. Además, existe un enfoque en inversiones rápidas, como la construcción de grandes presas, en lugar de abordar las causas fundamentales como la sobreexplotación y la contaminación. “Sin transparencia y rendición de cuentas para abordar la gestión del agua, el ciclo de prácticas ineficaces continuará.” - Fermín Reygadas Cody Copeland: Sin transparencia y rendición de cuentas, es difícil obtener el apoyo público y garantizar que las prácticas de gestión del agua sean justas y equitativas. Estos principios son fundamentales para una buena gobernanza y una gestión sostenible del agua. En México, la polarización política debilita los esfuerzos para responsabilizar a las autoridades. Ese crea una falsa percepción de esperanza y desvía las críticas de quienes están en el poder, debilitando los esfuerzos para responsabilizarlos. Por ejemplo, en la Ciudad de México, existe una nueva regulación ambiental (Ley Batres), que ostensiblemente busca proteger las áreas ambientales, pero incluye cláusulas que permiten cambios en el uso del suelo en zonas de conservación. En este sentido, los periodistas son esenciales para llevar los datos al público, permitiendo que los ciudadanos responsabilicen a los funcionarios gubernamentales por sus acciones. En un clima político polarizado, el papel de los medios independientes se vuelve aún más crítico, ya que puede desmantelar la retórica y proporcionar información factual al público. "No se trata solo de tener leyes y regulaciones; se trata de asegurar que estas leyes sean transparentes y que existan mecanismos claros de rendición de cuentas para hacerlas cumplir. Cuando los ciudadanos pueden ver y entender cómo se toman las decisiones y tienen el poder de responsabilizar a los funcionarios, se logra una mejor gobernanza y prácticas más sostenibles de gestión del agua." - Cody Copeland --- Usar la Tecnología y la Innovación Tamara Luengo: La tecnología ofrece numerosas oportunidades para mejorar la gestión hídrica, desde sistemas avanzados de monitoreo hasta análisis de datos que nos ayudan a entender los patrones de uso, detectar fugas y optimizar la asignación de recursos. Gonzalo Meschengieser: América Latina enfrenta importantes desafíos de desigualdad y urbanización, incluidos los problemas de provisión de agua a grandes cantidades de personas en asentamientos informales. La escasez hídrica es más a menudo una crisis de gestión en lugar de disponibilidad real de agua. Invertir en investigación y desarrollar nuevas tecnologías es esencial para crear sistemas de gestión del agua eficientes y sostenibles. La innovación impulsa el progreso y puede reducir significativamente los impactos de la escasez de agua. --- La Importancia de la Participación Comunitaria Emilie Dupuits: La participación comunitaria garantiza que las iniciativas de gestión del agua aborden las necesidades reales de las personas. La participación activa de las comunidades en los procesos de toma de decisiones fomenta un sentido de pertenencia y responsabilidad, lo que conduce a resultados más exitosos y sostenibles. Aquí hay un ejemplo que ilustra la complejidad de las dinámicas en juego. Existe un desafío significativo en garantizar la seguridad hídrica en áreas urbanas a expensas de las comunidades rurales, lo que a menudo compromete la seguridad hídrica de las comunidades rurales e indígenas, que han protegido históricamente los ecosistemas vitales en las áreas de captación. “Es necesario asegurar la justicia en la seguridad hídrica y la importancia de reconocer y valorar los esfuerzos de conservación de las comunidades rurales e indígenas para mantener un enfoque equilibrado y equitativo.” - Emilie Dupuits Fermín Reygadas: La participación comunitaria ayuda a crear conciencia sobre los problemas del agua y fomenta el uso responsable de la misma. Cuando las personas entienden los desafíos y participan en la gestión del agua, es más probable que apoyen y contribuyan a las soluciones. --- Integrando la Gestión del Agua con la Planificación Urbana Jorge Arriaga: Integrar las políticas de gestión del agua con estrategias más amplias de planificación y desarrollo urbano asegura que las consideraciones sobre el agua estén incluidas en todos los aspectos del crecimiento de la ciudad. Este enfoque holístico es necesario para crear entornos urbanos resilientes y sostenibles. Tamara Luengo: Los responsables de formular políticas deben coordinar la planificación de los recursos hídricos con la planificación urbana para evitar conflictos y garantizar un uso sostenible del agua. Los esfuerzos coordinados entre los diferentes sectores y departamentos son cruciales para crear estrategias cohesivas que aborden tanto las necesidades de gestión del agua como las de desarrollo urbano. Sin dicha integración, las políticas de agua pueden no respaldar los objetivos más amplios de la planificación urbana, lo que lleva a ineficiencias y oportunidades perdidas para un crecimiento sostenible. Foto: Pexels - Luis Quintero https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-gray-faucet-2339722/

Iniciando una nueva estrategia con avances y promesas  READ ARTICLE IN ENGLISH "El mensaje es claro. Debemos cambiar de rumbo para lograr el acceso universal al agua y al saneamiento."  -António Guterres, Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, en Blueprint for Acceleration: Sustainable Development Goal 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2023. La integridad es fundamental en los sectores del agua y el saneamiento, ya que la corrupción y la mala gestión pueden afectar gravemente a la prestación de servicios y a la preparación ante catástrofes hídricas, contribuyendo a crisis sanitarias y a la degradación medioambiental. Al promover la integridad a través de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas, WIN asegura que los recursos se utilicen de manera eficiente y equitativa, contribuyendo a garantizar el acceso al agua potable y al saneamiento para todos. En 2023, la Red de Integridad del Agua (WIN, por sus siglas en inglés) comenzó a trabajar en su nueva estrategia en un contexto de una crisis climática creciente y graves catástrofes relacionadas con el agua, así como de deterioro de la democracia y el espacio cívico en todo el mundo. Estas preocupantes tendencias hacen aún más importante la labor de la WIN y sus socios. En un sector profundamente afectado por el cambio climático, la transparencia, la rendición de cuentas, la participación y las actividades de anticorrupción pueden generar confianza y hacer que se produzcan nuevos avances. A través de una combinación de investigación, capacitación, desarrollo de herramientas y programas nacionales de gran impacto, WIN y sus socios han sentado las bases para lograr mejoras sostenibles a largo plazo. Agradecemos a nuestros socios por su trabajo y colaboración en la promoción de una gobernanza limpia y honesta en los sectores de agua y saneamiento. También agradecemos a nuestros donantes y seguidores por hacer posible nuestro trabajo. Aspectos Clave de 2023 Liderazgo de pensamiento e investigación: comprensión de las complejidades de los riesgos de integridad en nuevas áreas de los sectores de agua y saneamiento El compromiso de WIN con la investigación está abriendo nuevas áreas de investigación para comprender mejor cómo los sectores del agua y el saneamiento sufren la corrupción y cuál es la mejor manera de abordar los riesgos. Los nuevos trabajos sobre saneamiento, en particular el Saneamiento Urbano Inclusivo y la regulación del saneamiento, identificaron riesgos de integridad únicos. La investigación sentará las bases de herramientas, formación y aportaciones sobre gestión de riesgos para la integridad, previstas para 2024. En respuesta a las peticiones de los socios, WIN también puso en marcha una investigación clave sobre la integridad en la financiación del agua y saneamiento, incluida la financiación climática y cuestiones clave como la financiación mixta y el uso indebido de fondos , en preparación del lanzamiento del próximo Water Integrity Global Outlook . “[Estos son] conocimientos que puedo utilizar con los responsables de la toma de decisiones para lograr un cambio en los asentamientos informales”. -Participante del curso en línea Integridad en los asentamientos informales en la evaluación de final de curso. Capacitación y desarrollo de habilidades: formación de campeones de la integridad La formación sigue siendo uno de los pilares de la estrategia de WIN, con más de 500 participantes en diversos cursos en línea organizados con Cap-Net sobre aspectos básicos de la integridad en el sector del agua y la prestación de servicios en asentamientos informales . Estas formaciones básicas, junto con la formación de nuevos usuarios en herramientas de gestión de la integridad, están capacitando a una red de defensores de integridad entre los profesionales del sector del agua y saneamiento. Desarrollo de herramientas: equipando a profesionales del sector del agua y saneamiento para la evaluación y gestión de riesgos de integridad WIN ha impulsado el desarrollo de herramientas de datos críticos como el Marco para la Integridad en la Planificación de Infraestructuras (FIIP, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Índice de Riesgo de Integridad del Agua (WIRI, por sus siglas en inglés) . Estas herramientas ayudan a identificar y mitigar los riesgos de integridad en los proyectos y la contratación de infraestructuras de agua. También, pueden orientar los programas de reforma. WIN también consolidó InWASH , una caja de herramientas de integridad para que las empresas de servicios públicos conozcan las prácticas y oportunidades en materia de integridad y desarrollen un plan de acción práctico. Esta herramienta se utiliza actualmente a través de América Latina. En 2023, WIN trabajó con empresas de servicios públicos y pequeños sistemas de suministro de agua que, en conjunto, se calcula que llegan a 13,076 millones de personas. -Informe anual de WIN de 2023 Programas nacionales: impulsar la integridad desde el ámbito local al nacional Los programas nacionales de WIN en Kenia, Bangladesh y México han logrado avances significativos. En Kenia, una nueva estrategia de cuatro años se centra en la acción colectiva, la integración de herramientas de integridad en modelos de gobernanza y el fortalecimiento de la gobernanza financiera climática. Los socios kenianos también ampliaron su trabajo utilizando el IMT-SWSS. En Bangladesh, una nueva estrategia y nuevos socios están enfocados en fortalecer la capacidad de las organizaciones comunitarias para la promoción y mejora de servicios a través de la integridad. La investigación sobre el Saneamiento Urbano Inclusivo también se basa en gran medida en la experiencia y el trabajo de los socios en Bangladesh. En México, el trabajo se ha centrado en mejorar los servicios de agua y saneamiento, especialmente para grupos marginados, mediante una gestión mejorada y asociaciones sólidas con actores locales. El Plan de Justicia Hídrica, o Agenda Chiapas, es una rama del trabajo liderado por socios y líderes indígenas de comunidades en la región, con el objetivo de asegurar que los candidatos electorales asuman compromisos relevantes para abordar sus necesidades. También se llevó a cabo trabajo con empresas de servicios públicos y reguladores en Perú, Ecuador, Honduras, Argentina y Bolivia , con el apoyo del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Y eso no es todo, WIN ha puesto la integridad del agua en la agenda de importantes foros internacionales y continuará haciéndolo en 2024 y más allá. Y eso no es todo, WIN ha puesto la integridad del agua en la agenda de importantes foros internacionales. Continuará haciéndolo en 2024 y más allá. Mientras WIN sigue catalizando una cultura de integridad, su apoyo es crucial. Juntos, podemos prevenir y combatir la corrupción, mejorar la prestación de servicios y garantizar el uso sostenible de los recursos hídricos frente a desafíos globales. Únase a la red como socio para compartir su compromiso . O contáctenos para co-desarrollar o apoyar nuevos programas de investigación y de países. Lea más sobre la promoción, investigación y programas de socios de WIN en el Informe Anual 2023 (en inglés):

BUILDING AN INTEGRITY BASELINE FOR BETTER SERVICES IN MEXICO, LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND DATES 2019-Current LOCATION(S) Mexico PARTNERS CTG, UNAM, Cantaro Azul WHAT IT'S ABOUT WIN has been working with partners in Mexico since 2019 to contribute to the achievement of SDG6 and guarantee the human rights to water and sanitation by strengthening integrity in communities, organisations, and institutions of the water and sanitation sectors. Improving management of services to benefit the most marginalised groups in particular, is an important priority. As in other parts of the world, in Mexico the lack of adequate information, transparency, accountability, citizen participation and anti-corruption measures in water and sanitation reduces the efficiency and sustainability of operators and degrades trust in public systems. In response, the main areas of action of WIN and partners have been: Development and adaptation of methodologies and tools for the implementation of integrity initiatives; Capacity building, with a focus on community water and sanitation systems; Implementation of integrity programmes for water and sanitation service providers; Strengthening partnerships with local actors to promote integrity in the water sector; and Promoting the inclusion of a gender approach in the analysis of integrity failures. New activities include research on sextortion and gender inequality in the water and sanitation sectors as well as research on risks and ethical dilemmas faced by utilities. HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING An analysis of the Mexican legal framework for water highlighted major gaps in legislation to recognise and support community structures even though water services are directly provided by communities in rural and peri-urban areas across the country. The report has been used to raise awareness, build trust in community structures, and lobby for better recognition. Over 10 rural communities located in the centre and south of the country have implemented the IMT-SWSS. Several communities put in place a numbers of measures to engage better with users, for example: complaint mechanisms for users, regular meetings with families and community audits, or agreements on a transparent fee or rate structure. Engaging in the IMT-SWSS process has also allowed committees to build stronger alliances with municipal governments in Mexico. This is a key benefit in countries like Mexico, where small water supply systems are not regulated and often have contentious relationships with municipalities. PUBLICATIONS On using integrity management tools: On integrity concerns related to regulation of small water supply systems (In Spanish) FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED Contact the programme coordinator:

Today, in Bali, while around 3 000 delegates were attending a range of sessions at the 10th World Water Forum, the police shut down the People’s Water Forum, a gathering of civil society organisations from around the world.   For years, a range of civil society organisations have met in parallel to the World Water Forum to discuss their issues and concerns, including on privatisation in water and sanitation and possible alternatives.   Why then has this year’s gathering of civil society been shut down?  Organisers of the People’s Water Forum reported that they have been harassed and intimidated, and finally blocked from entering the venue where they were due to meet. They were apparently told by the police that the People’s Water Forum could not be allowed to run in parallel to the World Water Forum. And yet both have run at the same time several times in the past without incident, for example during the 9th World Water Forum in Senegal and previously.   This raises significant concerns about the closing of civic space in Indonesia, and the difficult conditions in which civil society already operates. Several studies conducted by human rights organisations and think tanks in recent years have noted the shrinking of civic space in Indonesia. This action is further evidence of this trend.   The delivery of water and sanitation to all cannot take place without the involvement of civil society, and without the most affected people at the table.    We are committed to the right to freedom of expression, to the right to associate, and we call on the Government of Indonesia to immediately allow the People’s Water Forum to continue to meet.    We also call on the World Water Forum to engage immediately with the Government of Indonesia to allow the People’s Water Forum to continue.     Water Integrity Network   African Civil Society Network for Water (ANEW)   End Water Poverty Water Witness International United Youth for Peace Education Transparency and Development in Liberia Shahidi wa Maji Voices for Just Climate Action Alliance (VCA) Action contre la Faim France Coalition Eau Fundación Cántaro Azul A.C. (México) Combined Harare Residents Association Access editable version and add your organisation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19pRit1d7Uo1E0pMdqtJhbanyD4iTMYYUqc_TPwcvMis/edit?usp=sharing Find out more from the event organisers: Indonesian Water Defenders Under Siege in Bali – The People's Water Forum ( thepeopleswaterforum.org )

The Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) framework has been introduced to ensure that sanitation services are provided in a safe, sustainable and reliable way in cities, particularly to vulnerable groups. Contrary to previous approaches that tend to focus on incrementally extending the centralised sewerage network, CWIS puts forward both sewered and non-sewered systems and focuses on sustainable service. In this integrity talk, we discussed how CWIS is working in practice and how different actors are taking on board the framework. We focused on integrity, responsibilities, regulation and what we can do to enable long-term change. This is an edited summary of the main discussion points of Integrity Talk 9 on Citywide Inclusive Sanitation, which took place online on November 29, 2023. See other Integrity Talk summaries here . With special guests: Dr. Christoph Lüthi, EAWAG-SANDEC; Claire Grisaffi, Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP); Bill Twyman, AguaConsult; Tanvir Ahmed, ITN-BUET; Rohini Pradeep, CDD Society. Moderated by Ivan Zupan, Water Integrity Network (WIN). KEY TAKEAWAYS CWIS is a powerful and useful framework – it makes it possible to reframe sanitation in a positive and innovative manner, without stigma. Its flexibility and focus on principles, rather than solutions, make it particularly adaptable. It is however not straightforward to implement. It requires long-term commitment and investment. Above all it requires new ways of thinking and doing sanitation work, along with adequate new capacity and dedicated people working collaboratively across the sector. Integrity is an important component of CWIS work and is embedded in CWIS functions (particularly under accountability, resource planning, and management). It is especially needed to: define clear responsibilities for all stakeholders and build accountability along the entire sanitation value chain; ensure that poor integrity and shadow systems don’t undermine impressive developments in regulatory work; safeguard available resources and attract new ones; build community trust and engagement, ensuring acceptability. SUMMARY What is Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and why does it matter? Christoph Lüthi (EAWAG-SANDEC):  The global water crisis manifests in different areas as too little water, too much water, or too dirty water. In response, CWIS is the dominant paradigm for achieving safe sanitation for urban context. CWIS is not new and it’s not a set approach. It’s a framework for solutions where all members of the city have equitable access to adequate and affordable improved sanitation services through, appropriate systems of all scales (sewered and non-sewered), without any contamination to the environment along the entire sanitation value chain.   In the last two years, we’ve seen an increasing number of pilot implementations and moves to operationalise CWIS. This includes work on ways to measure progress. For example, to measure progress on equity, indicators can include: percentage of population with access to improved sanitation or shared sanitation, or the percentage of the population living in informal settlements with access to improved sanitation. None of this is prescriptive. It’s a guide for action that most large funders are aligning with. What do you see as the main implications of CWIS for utilities? How are service providers taking the framework on board? Claire Grisaffi (WSUP): We've seen that the CWIS framework is a powerful concept. It has made investment into promotion of non-sewered solutions much more politically palatable and it also embeds the understanding that high quality faecal sludge management can provide safe sanitation and even be prestigious. For utilities, there are still two major challenges to implementation: The whole new way of working to manage non-networked services and the very different capacities needed to do so. In many cases, service providers are not providing direct services like they are used to, but managing multiple formal and informal service providers. They also have to build trust and manage expectations and social norms around safe sanitation, with limited public funding. The need to balance often conflicting aims for universal access to sanitation and commercial viability. There is an assumption that market mechanisms can work and that low-cost sanitation services can be developed. What we’re seeing is that providing safe sanitation – safe for households, safe for workers, safe for society at large – has a high cost, even more so in lower income areas due to difficult access and poor-quality containment. As implementing partners, we also must seriously reflect on our own integrity and the approaches we are promoting. Are we overly optimistic about the potential of the private sector? Are we transparent about what financially viable services really mean and how that can imply a sustainable level of subsidy? Are we thinking enough about the weight placed on utilities to reach universal access? We’ve seen the importance of developing trust, the importance of local management. And in terms of design of services, we’ve seen how important it is to actually demonstrate what safe sanitation service looks like. Because for many people, it’s horrific and shameful. You have to understand how this is viewed by communities.  -Claire Grisaffi, WSUP What do we know about regulating for CWIS? What can we learn from Zambia? Bill Twyman (AguaConsult): Across the continent there is a bias in regulation towards water supply only. Zambia doesn’t entirely escape this trend but is still at the forefront of many developments for regulation of urban sanitation. Zambia stands out for its independent regulatory agency (National Water Supply and Sanitation Council, NWASCO) and the impressive and wide range of regulatory instruments in place, also for non-sewered sanitation. There are also some regulatory functions that are in a sense shared with the Lusaka Water Sanitation Company, which acts as a bridge to smaller service providers. This doesn’t mean the Zambian sanitation sector is immune to corruption and poor integrity. In our research, we came across a number of cases – from bribery, nepotism and misuse of per diems to allegations of large-scale corruption in procurement and management of major internationally funded programmes. Recommendations to improve and strengthen regulation include e-procurement, better data collection, public reporting on integrity and integrity failures. We need to pay attention and understand this shadow system better. There is no doubt that in countries with no dedicated regulatory actors and weaker regulatory systems, the issues related to poor integrity will be much more perverse and far more widespread. -Bill Twyman, Aguaconsult On a broader level, we see many weaknesses in the regulatory environment, in relation to autonomy, capacity coordination, and accountability. We also see weaknesses in the application of integrity mechanisms: standards monitoring, reporting incentive sanctions or more specific mechanisms relating to governance, human resources, or project execution. There’s a lot we could be doing to reduce the opportunities for corruption. Generally, you see better regulator performance when there is a dedicated agency, but that’s not the case in every context. Tanvir Ahmed (ITN-BUET): In cases where there are a lot of utilities or a lot of private operators, regulation through an agency may be easier but in other cases maybe not. In Bangladesh, an independent regulatory agency is not an option. But CWIS does bring out notions of accountability and responsibility. It has regulation almost built in through the principles. Claire Grisaffi (WSUP): A good example we see isn’t about passive adaptation to new regulation. That doesn’t work. Utilities have to lean into the discussion on what’s working and what’s not. They see low demand, low profit margins and the need for a long-term change process, meaning it will be typically deprioritised. As a consequence, regulation pushing on-site sanitation just doesn’t get implemented. A good practice is for utilities to have units or dedicated staff or dedicated budget lines, even if they are tiny, just to make sure that you actually have that accountability and visibility of service.   How can we then create an enabling environment for CWIS? What can we learn from Bangladesh for the mainstreaming of CWIS? Tanvir Ahmed (ITN-BUET): Dhaka has very low coverage for sewerage and a sewerage system that hasn’t expanded over time with the city. Only 1.2% of the households are connected to sewers. The city, with 20 million people, has only one sewerage treatment plant. Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) was never in any city plans. This is the backdrop for the CWIS and how it has to evolve in Bangladesh. What we see across the country is programmes in small cities that are exemplary in relation to individual CWIS principles. Faridipur City has worked on awareness raising and equity and has women-led treatment operations; Sakhipur has closed the loop on managing the entire sanitation service chain, Khulna has set performance targets with a clear inclusive mandate. These examples have yet to be replicated and scaled up. We are still using traditional approaches to planning and implementation. For CWIS to work and for the 216+ municipalities that are still unserved or have no Faecal Sludge Treatmpent Plant (FSTP), we need a strong collaborative ecosystem. As a first step, the country developed an institutional regulatory framework for Faecal Sludge Mangement (FSM) which outlines who the sanitation stakeholders are and what their relationship is. We have the ministry on top, the local government institutions to implement, and the agencies to support sanitation investments. The next step is a regulatory mechanism for sanitation. ITN-BUET focuses on capacity building for all actors. It is especially crucial to prioritise capacity building at the local level. There’s a realisation there that focusing on implementers is not enough. Mayors and city officials have become important stakeholders. We have to make them realise that citywide inclusive sanitation is a change of mind-set. That it’s not only infrastructure. That it is also means service. People think of a toilet but it’s a combination of everything. -Tanvir Ahmed, ITN-BUET Christoph Lüthi (EAWAG-SANDEC): Around the principle of mixed technologies and mixed systems, we are still getting a lot of pushback. And that has a lot to do with old-school engineering thinking about ‘one-size fits all’ or ‘we want sewers for our city’. Many utility managers want sewers. That can actually create delays and issues in project implementation. Political will is central.   How is it working in practice? What can we learn from India about project implementation? Rohini Pradeep (CDD Society): When looking at CWIS principles, we must think in terms of public service. How do we strengthen service by bringing in responsibility, accountability, and better resource planning, in order to ensure high levels of equity and sustainability. Integrity is clearly key. It underpins trust-building and community engagement, it encourages equitable access, transparency on the use of funds, better accounting, capacity building, and regulation. What we see very often in our work is community toilets that are not or poorly maintained, or where usage is very low. There are many factors contributing to this situation. Poor and unintegrated planning and siting is one. Unclear or clashing responsibilities and insufficient capacity is another. When there are delays because of limited resources or unclear responsibilities and multiple service providers, people will bypass formal solutions, resort to private contractors, or connect themselves however they can. We’ve seen examples where one truck is used for multiple activities in the process of collecting waste then desledging. It created delays and pushed people elsewhere when cooperation between stakeholders could have been beneficial for everyone. One other big concern is financing. When no provisions are made for operation and maintenance (O&M) upfront, local municipalities will have to put up funds. But sanitation is usually then at the bottom of the list of priorities. There are a number of interesting initiatives being piloted, for example performance-based contracts for service delivery, subsidy programmes, quotas of low-income users for each providers. Most of these rely on strong community engagement for success. Integrity is key to this, especially the inclusion of all stakeholders in planning. Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each party involved and resourcing these adequately is the next crucial step.   RECORDING

RESEARCHING AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT SEXTORTION IN WATER AND SANITATION DATES 2021-Current LOCATION(S) Bangladesh, Mexico, Kenya PARTNERS UNU-MERIT, DORP, Change Initiative WHAT IT'S ABOUT Sexual extortion, or “sextortion”, is a gendered form of corruption in which sexual acts, rather than money, are the currency of a bribe. It is common in the water and sanitation sectors, meaning that many (mostly) women will have to pay with their bodies for an essential service which should be a guaranteed human right. What makes sextortion nefarious and complex is the social stigma associated with it, the power dynamics related to gender, the paucity of research and data on the act, and the corruption in the larger system that makes reporting and taking action difficult. The fact that there is an exchange or transaction when sextortion occurs makes reporting more difficult and victim blaming common. This makes sextortion different from other forms of gender-based violence and possibly more taboo, even though the consequences are severe. These include shame and trauma for victims, direct and indirect economic consequences, the transmission of diseases, unwanted pregnancies, exclusion, and other social consequences. WIN partners, including KEWASNET in Kenya , and the SIWI Water Governance Facility in Colombia and South Africa , pioneered research on sex for water. Still the topic remains misunderstood and hard to take on. WIN is continuing to support research and raise awareness on the dynamics and impact of sextortion as well as the needs of survivors. WIN worked with DORP and Change Initiative on the largest study specifically on sextortion in 2 regions in Bangladesh. The first results, published with UNU-Merit show that poverty, low literacy, and inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities are drivers of sextortion. Further research is ongoing in Mexico. PUBLICATIONS Factsheet: what is sextortion and what should be done about it English: French: Spanish: Research papers Working paper on research in Bangladesh: FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED Contact our programme coordinator

The essential contributions of youth organisations in addressing water-related challenges and advocating for integrity in water governance In many regions, passionate young people are contributing to youth groups and water parliaments. They have new networks, tools, technologies, and opportunities for learning. And, they are deploying these capabilities to ensure water stays on the agenda, to weigh in on decisions they are usually excluded from, and to proactively hold local authorities to account on their promises and the budgets they allocate to addressing water issues. In Integrity Talk 10, they shared some thoughts on their vision, their work, and their challenges. This is a summary of the main discussion points of Integrity Talk 10 on youth engagement for water integrity, organized with the World Youth Parliament for Water . The event took place online on March 27, 2024. See other Integrity Talk summaries here. With special guests: Cynthia Chigwenya, African Union Commission; Felix Brian, Kenya Water for Health Organization (KWAHO); Charles Amenya, National Youth Water Parliament – Kenya; Boluwatito Awe, Nigerian Youth Parliament for Water, Amiya Prapan Chakra Borty (Arka), Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF). Moderated by Johanna Arita, World Youth Parliament for Water KEY TAKEAWAYS Youth parliaments have been instrumental in leveraging technology and social media to stimulate action from duty bearers and raise awareness about water issues, while promoting innovation in the sector. Young leaders have been actively involved in initiatives of monitoring water service delivery, tracking election promises, and monitoring budgets . They have been raising awareness about water-related issues in communities and schools, advocating for policy changes , and sharing best practices for water management, advocacy, and research. This is crucial water integrity work. Many youth networks emphasize capacity development, community awareness raising, and partnership. This is key to their sustainability. They have also proven their worth as partners for SDG6, especially in collaboration with local governments . It is essential for institutions to support these youth networks - with funding, resources, access to information and networking opportunities - for action research and community-led development. “We want to catalyse youthful but meaningful water conversations. We want to position young people as strategic partners and opinion shapers and not just beneficiaries. We understand that they hold a lot of knowledge, a lot of expertise we should tap into. There is flexibility, creativity, innovations and huge agency in youth groups." - Felix Brian (KWAHO)  Can you share input on how the context and need for youth advocacy on water is evolving, across Africa in particular? (Cynthia Chigwenya) There are four main points to highlight when considering the context for youth engagement, all connected to how governance, accountability, and human rights relate and impact on peace and security. First people look to regional and international actors for action on basic service provision but one crucial actor is actually local government. Knowing this, it is important to look at the competency and human capital in local government. Only then can we reconsider accountability mechanisms at local level, before getting to accountability at national or regional levels. It’s also at the local level that we have to examine misuse of resources. Second, we are increasingly living in a context where traditional methods to hold authorities accountable may be somewhat inefficient. People are using alternative methods of participation, including protest for example. This is however not evident when democratic standards are in decline. Third, we have to consider the influence of external actors championing work on some of the fundamental human rights that we have. We have look at how this influence is perceived by local government and how it affects governance. Finally, climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. It doesn't affect just the African continent, but its impacts are disproportionate on the continent because of limited adaptive capacities. We do not have infrastructures to respond effectively. How do the Youth Parliaments in Kenya, Nigeria, and Bangladesh work and promote transparency, accountability, and innovation in the water sector? (Felix Brian, Charles Amenya, Boluwatito Awe, Amiya Prapan Chakra Borty) Youth Parliaments across Kenya, Bangladesh and Nigeria are not set up and managed in the same way but they all have in common that they bring together water advocates who are not necessarily water sector professionals. They focus on raising awareness with broad reach and using new networks, technology and (social) media. They are generally deeply engaged at local level, in communities, in schools. They all emphasise youth’s motivation, drive and their ability to innovate, adapt, and build partnerships that break silos in the sector and enable exchange of learnings and best practices. They all focus on accountability and see themselves as key players in promoting transparency. In Kenya , Youth Parliaments are set up at county level. They also have a national umbrella parliament. Youth Parliaments focus on improving accountability, engaging in research, enhancing communication and coordination, networking with stakeholders, and building the capacity of youth groups in the water sector. They collaborate with different sectors, including the private , public , and government, to address water challenges and amplify research to back their arguments and influence the agenda and prioritise WASH issues in different forums. They monitor election promises related to water issues and participate in the development of water policies and bills . “We were really lacking that opportunity to engage our decision makers and also drive the decisions that are being made around the water sector in this country. So the Youth Parliaments are seen an opportunity for young people to start understanding how to engage with policy leaders, how to engage with different platforms, present their pitch and solutions for the water sector. We are amplifying research to ensure we have evidence that can really back all our arguments. And we are also looking at accountability from every angle." -Charles Amenya (National Youth Water Parliament, Kenya) In Nigeria , the Youth Parliament for Water works with partners at different levels. The Youth Parliament collaborates with local communities to improve access toclean water and sanitation. They create awareness, implement projects, and advocate for the prioritisation of water at the local andnational level. They ensure youth from remote areas are heard, connected and have opportunities to share their work. The Nigerian Youth Parliament for water also connects with international organisations like the World Youth Parliament for Water and the International Secretariat for Water. These international partnerships provide learning opportunities, cross-cultural collaboration, and sharing of best practices in water governance. Promoting transparency and accountability, especially in the allocation and use of public funds for water-related projects is a key element of the Parliament’work. For example, they have used data from organisations like BudgIT to assess public budgets in water with journalists and monitor what is actually being implemented in communities. “As young people, we have to earn a living, we don’t all work in the water sector. We are sometimes limited in what we could do. There are challenges. So, we encourage people, we train and motivate youth leaders. (...) Young people are really important. They are crucial. They are advocates for change. We have the power. We have the zeal. We are not afraid to hold these older people accountable for the actions that they have committed to taking. Young people must be included in initiatives for water integrity." -Boluwatito Awe (Nigerian Youth Parliament for Water) In Bangladesh , the DYDF and youth parliament focus on advocacy and training. There is no continuous national parliament but rather consultation at the national level based on Youth Parliament work, sessions, and dialogues locally, rotating in different divisions of Bangladesh at district, committee, and community levels. The focus is on solving problems from the grassroots level. Youth Parliaments advocate for youth engagement, and as youth voice, on all kinds of different policies in conservation, WASH, IT, and more. For example, through its work over five years, the Youth Parliament helped develop the national Youth Policy. By training youth leaders and raising awareness, they have also contributes to increasing the number of youth representatives in Parliament. Climate is now becoming an essential pillar of action. Q&A How can we sustain the initial enthusiasm of youth engaging in Youth Parliaments, especially since so much of this work is voluntary? Several ideas were highlighted: Capacity building or training on skills that can ensure sustainability, for example fundraising, understanding local governance and decision-making processes, networking. Building connections, especially with local governments . Ensuring a baseline level of commitment, for example 30 minutes a day for water and the Youth Parliament. Beyond funding, what other kind of support do youth organisations need for their integrity work? Besides funding, what is most needed is networking opportunities and support from partners to learn about research, how to implement research, how to use research and data. How can we make sure that youth perspectives are taken seriously and really taken into consideration? There are two critical elements that can boost trust and support youth work: working directly with government, even to develop and execute certain activities, and partnerships. There is much more impact through partnerships than through work as an independent organisation tackling issues alone. Partnerships with youth in remote areas and organisations there is particularly useful. Are young people more aware of corruption and are they willing to do more than before? Yes! Youth Parliament events in Bangladesh have helped increase awareness in youth in the country for example. Across countries, social media has also played a big role. Young people today are more likely to directly go to government officials or the press and discuss issues. There is better data and more evidence and youth are directly feeling the impact of corruption. Having the right information, the data, the evidence, is a key ingredient in the corruption conversation. Photo: Markus Spiske, Unsplash

SUPPORTING REGULATORY AUTHORITIES TO BENCHMARK AND INCENTIVISE INTEGRITY IN WATER AND SANITATION SERVICE DELIVERY DATES 2021-Current LOCATION(S) Global, Honduras, Ecuador PARTNERS ERSAWAS, ERSAPS WHAT IT'S ABOUT Regulatory agencies have a fundamental role in ensuring integrity in water and sanitation and there are many actions regulators can take to regulate for integrity: from proactive integrity risk benchmarking to better communication with users. Regulators are also directly vulnerable to integrity risks, which include but are not limited to capture by stakeholders, extortion of service providers, and non-transparent practices in the regulatory process. WIN supports regulators to assess real risks and practically regulate for integrity: focusing on equity, ensuring professional and compliant service, enabling informed participation, and taking a stand against corruption. We do this through dedicated research on key risk areas, as well as direct support to regulators with integrity clinics, risk management frameworks. With the Consortium for Water Integrity in Latin America (with SIWI and cewas) and with support form the Inter-American Development Bank, we are codeveloping tools for managing internal risks and for benchmarking utility performance from an integrity perspective. These tools have been piloted in Honduras and Ecuador and will continue to evolve with further testing in the region. “One of the main challenges for regulators is to promote integrity within their own organisation before engaging with water providers and consumers. We are constantly facing complex questions such as: what is integrity for us, how do we manage our own resources, and how do we take decisions.” - Giovanni Espinal (Water and Sanitation Services Regulatory Entity ERSAPS, Honduras) PUBLICATIONS Regulating urban sanitation (Zambia research): Water service providers and revenue collection from public customers: Integrity and the role of water sector regulators: FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED Contact our programme coordinator:

PUTTING WATER INTEGRITY AT THE HEART OF CLIMATE WORK FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE AND EFFECTIVE ADAPTATION DATES 2018-Current LOCATION(S) Global PARTNERS Green Climate Fund, Transparency International, GIZ, IWMI WHAT IT'S ABOUT The climate crisis is also a water crisis. Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and storms, as well as other major climatic changes, are directly connected to water. Water is also at the heart of climate adaptation. The water and related sectors already receive the most funds for climate adaptation purposes. With vast sums of money being invested into climate change adaptation, billions of dollars are flowing through new channels, some of them relatively untested, and into the water sector - a sector which is already vulnerable to corruption because of its fragmentation, technical complexity, and the essential, irreplaceable nature of the services it provides. Corruption and poor integrity in climate-related finance pose significant risks for the water sector. Not only do they result in financial losses, they contribute to poor design and implementation of adaptation measures and directly impact people’s lives, health, and livelihoods, as well as socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. They also hit hardest in the most vulnerable communities. Integrity needs to be built into every way that we choose to respond to the climate crisis, including the ways in which we protect water resources and safeguard the human rights to water and sanitation. From big funders to local communities, integrity readiness is key to ensure resilience of the sector and of communities, especially those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We are bringing together organisations committed to strengthening integrity in climate action in the water and sanitation sectors. Together we are researching maladaptation and integrity risks in climate adaptation, raising awareness, and supporting the development of social accountability mechanisms to monitor climate action in the water sector. IN DIALOGUE An exchange of ideas between the former Head of the Independent Integrity Unit at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Mr. Ibrahim Pam, and WIN’s Executive Director, Barbara Schreiner, on how damaging the lack of integrity in the water sector can be and what to do about it. PUBLICATIONS WIN's climate approach: On maladaptation: On climate finance and integrity readiness: On the need for integrity in national adaptation plans: FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED

IMPROVING WATER SERVICE AND ADDRESSING PREMATURE WATER SYSTEM FAILURE IN RURAL AND MARGINALISED AREAS DATES 2017-Current LOCATION(S) Global, Kenya, Mexico PARTNERS Caritas Switzerland, KEWASNET, WASREB, CESPAD, KWAHO, NIA, Cantaro Azul, Controla Tu Gobierno WHAT IT'S ABOUT Over the last decade, service provision in developing countries has considerably improved and professionalised in urban and commercially viable areas. However, in rural and marginalised areas where services are often not commercially viable, people still depend on point sources or small-scale piped systems. These systems are often managed by community groups that sometimes struggle to remain active and also often operate outside a country’s regulatory framework or oversight systems, with little support and limited accountability. In many cases, these water systems end up offering low quality services or quickly break down. For years, NGOs and other water sector actors have been trying to address this issue by providing more technical training. However, this type of training, rarely helps surmount the root causes of poor O&M, which are most often poor management, inadequate or inexistent cost recovery systems, in addition to insufficient access to national or local technical and financial government support mechanisms. Integrity can provide a unique perspective on the sector issues that contribute to poor O&M and low performance of such systems. WIN has been working actively with partners in Kenya and Mexico to support communities in identifying root causes of problems from an integrity perspective. We use the Integrity Management Toolbox for Small Water Supply Systems (IMT-SWSS) to support integrity management processes where communities look at their system with an integrity lens and develop action plans to gradually improve governance, performance, relations with users, and local duty bearers. To date in Kenya, the IMT-SWSS has been embraced and is hosted by WASREB, the national regulator for service delivery. It is seen as an effective tool to build capacity of community groups to comply with the new Water Act and the Rural Water Service Delivery Guidelines of 2019, which refer to the IMT-SWSS management models. A majority of community groups that used the IMT-SWSS reported a positive improvement in how water committees engaged with communities and involved them in decision-making, especially in regard to finance and tariffs. In Mexico, rural communities located in the centre and south of the country which have implemented the IMT-SWSS, put in place a numbers of measures to engage with users, for example: complaint mechanisms for users, regular meetings with families and community audits, or agreements on a transparent fee or rate structure. They continue to use the tool to plan improvements. TOOLS The Integrity Management Toolbox for Small Water Supply Systems (IMT-SWSS) is a set of resources for communities to launch management plans that are participatory and focus on accountability and compliance. PUBLICATIONS On the impact of integrity management tools: Case studies: FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED Contact our programme coordinator