[[Image:Trans & Accnt.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Advocacy in Haiti supports transparency. Photo: [http://www.rescue.org/blog/pledwaye-ann-ayiti-advocacy-haiti rescue.org]]]
<br>===Water and Integrity==='''Transparency''' refers Improving water and WASH governance requires improving integrity where specifically strengthening the aspects of transparency, accountability, and participation (TAP) is crucial. Massive investments and aid flowing into the water sector makes it highly vulnerable to corruption. Estimates by the right World Bank suggest that 20–40 per cent of citizens water sector finances are being lost to access relevant informationdishonest practices. Openness Corruption comes in many different forms and the scope varies across water practices, governance structures and the perceptions and norms of actors involved. Typical examples of corruption include falsified meter readings, distorted site selection of projects, collusion and favouritism in public access to information are vitalprocurement, so that and nepotism in the allocation of public offices. In the water-users can understand the decision-making processes sector, observers’ estimate that affect them20 per cent to 70 per cent of resources could be saved if transparency were optimised and corruption eliminated (GCR 2008). The significant negative impacts of corruption on economic performance, growth and human development are treated as a tenet and control of corruption a core indicator for good governance. This makes citizens knowledgeable To know more about the standards to expect from public officials water, WASH, corruption and enables them to protect their rightsintegrity, visit: www.waterintegrity.org
<br>'''Accountability''' is a broad concept that entails several dimensions and is often used in different ways. Some see it as a mechanism to hold people and institutions accountable, whereas others may see it as a concept referring to the actual application and implementation of rules and standards. Accountability in a democratic sense means that an individual in a public function or a public institution must answer for their own actions. This includes political, administrative, and financial dimensions.===FAQ on water integrity===
===Why Does Corruption Matter=What is integrity?====This is synonymous with honesty and refers to the need for public, private and civil society sector representatives to be honest in carrying out their functions and resist corruption. It is estimated requires that corruption in developing countries raises the price holders of connecting a household public or private office do not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to a water network by up individuals or organisations that may influence their ability to 30 percentperform their duties. In many countries almost half This is about the water supply is lost need for public, private and civil society sector representatives to be honest in carrying out their functions and to unmonitored leakages resist extortion and illegal connectionsbanish corruption. Investing in good Holders of public or private office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to individuals or organisations that may influence their ability to perform their duties or put water governance means investing in jobs, agriculture, health, education services and environmental protection. It’s a straightforward path to progress; yet, too often that path is blocked by corruptionclean environment at risk.
===Water Corruption: Many Forms, One Effect=What are the main pillars of Integrity?===='''Transparency''' – This refers to the right of citizens to access relevant information. Openness and public access to information are vital, so that water-users can understand the decision-making processes that affect them. This makes citizens knowledgeable about the standards to expect from public officials and enables them to protect their rights.
Water corruption comes '''Accountability''' – Accountability is a broad concept and it entails several dimensions and is often used in many shapesdifferent ways. It can involve collusion or bribes over contractsSome see it as a mechanism to hold people and institutions accountable, officials turning whereas others may see it as a blind eye or enjoying personal concept referring to the actual application and implementation of rules and standards. Accountability in a democratic sense according means an individual in a public function or a public institution must answer for their actions. This includes political gain, or people having to pay illegal fees to water companies for connection to a water supply. Whatever the formadministrative, the effects of corruption are ultimately the same: higher costs and reduced access to water hit poor people the hardestfinancial dimensions.
* Corruption prevents Nairobi’s water from reaching millions '''Participation''' – Participation is a term with many different meanings. Some stress that it refers to the most basic indication of Kenya’s poor peopledemocratic rule that whoever is affected by a decision should, forcing them to pay 5 to 10 times more for water from other sourcesone way or another, directly or indirectly, have the chance of intervening in and influencing such decisions.* In California, San Diego households were overcharged for sewage treatment services It is also argued that participation fosters ownership in the sense that decisions are increasingly accepted and implemented by the excess was unlawfully used involved actors. WIN believes in civil society’s right and responsibility to subsidise industrial customers.* Local corruption play a role in China often prevents enforcement of environmental regulations, meaning 700 million people drink the water contaminated with animal sector decision-making process and in holding officials and human wastethose in public service to account. Estimates suggest poor quality water causes 60,000 premature deaths annually. * Several European It is important to make use of available data and information to monitor decision-making and progress on governance and North American multinational companies were prosecuted for bribery for the US $8 billion Lesotho Highlands water infrastructure projectcorruption.
===The Water Integrity Network approach to Corruption=Defining corruption====WIN takes According to Transparency International, “Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Corruption is about breaking socially established expectations of appropriate behaviour, and this is why a dual cultural approach to tackling water sector corruption; combining global advocacy and local actionis so important. Corruption is an exchange of either economic or social resources. It brings together partners and members from Corruption does not only take place in the public sector, it also occurs in non-governmental organisations and private sectorsenterprises. Common examples include cutting red tape in applications for reservoir water abstraction or expediting a household’s connection to municipal water supplies. Falsifying water meter readings, civil society and academiafor example, to drive change that will improve the lives of people who need is an equally corrupt practice if it mosttakes place in a private water company as in a public utility.
'''Global AdvocacyForms of corruption'''<br>* '''Bribes and kickbacks: by placing water ''' One of the most cited form of corruption firmly on ; they may include the international agendapayment of a fixed sum, WIN a percentage of a contract or in-kind favours. It is raising given to unduly influence some action or decision on the part of the recipient or beneficiary. Users for example may pay a small amount of money to have their meter reading falsified and bills lowered or to speed up repairs or the connection process. This can equally occur at higher levels within the chain of integrity service provision. * '''Collusion/ complicity:''' an arrangement between two or more parties designed to achieve an improper purpose, including influencing improperly the actions of another party. The most common form of collusion is when bidders agree among themselves on prices and accountability across “who should win.” This may or may not involve paying bribes to government officials so that they may “turn a blind eye” to the sectorpractice. WIN is also working closely with its * '''Fraud:''' Based on manipulation or distortion of information for private gain including the falsification of receipts and other documents. The use of misleading information to induce someone to turn over money or property voluntarily, for example, by misrepresenting the amount of people in need of a particular service.* '''Favouritism, clientelism, cronyism and nepotism:''' The use of entrusted power to provide preferential treatment to friends, family, business partners , political parties etc. This form of corruption often goes beyond individual interest and may include attempts to realign power structures for the accumulation and maintenance of power, status and global decisionwealth. Thus, it represents the infiltration of non-makers democratic paths to political and economic domination.* '''Extortion:''' The use of coercion to advocate force an action or induce complicity. It can include threats of violence or of exposing damaging information in order to induce cooperation.* '''Embezzlement and theft:''' This includes the direct taking of money or property for the changes personal enrichment out of public property. Not all cases of theft are considered corrupt, as it depends who is being stolen from, and transparency needed if entrusted power is being abused. It might involve diversion of public funds to contain corruptionone’s own bank account or stealing equipment from the water utility’s warehouse.
'''Local ====What is Water Integrity Network?====The Water Integrity Network (WIN) is an action''': WIN also initiates -oriented coalition of organisations and supports campaigns individuals promoting water integrity to translate global advocacy into local reduce and national actionprevent corruption in the water sector. Through grants WIN’s vision is a world with equitable and sustained access to civil society organisationswater and a clean environment, which is no longer threatened by corruption, greed, it encourages dishonesty and willful malpractice. WIN’s mission is to increase integrity in local governance. It also creates country action programmes, assessing corruption levels and offering potential remedies. '''Help us shape reduce corruption in the water sector through a cleanpro-poor and pro-water future''': WIN’s membership gives it a global reach based on locally driven initiativesequity focus. Members It works with partners and partners form national influences decision-makers to facilitate active multi-stakeholder coalitions assessing water integrity and advocate with governments to build capacities for the use of tools and strategies for regulation to prevent water corruptionintegrity at all levels. Membership The WIN secretariat is open to both individuals and organisationslocated in Berlin, Germany. One needn’t be a water expertTo know more, please visit: members can learn how to detect and prevent corruption, follow the latest developments, and share experiences with other members and WIN partners at[http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net waterintegritynetwork.net]./
===The IRC programme for Transparency & Accountability===
* [http://www.irc.nl/content/download/152546/518181/file/ACRA%201%20Intervision%20role%20play.doc Intervision Role Play]. IRC. A summary of the role play exercise that is highly suitable and informative for analysing problems, like a lack of transparency and corruption in water and sanitation, within small groups.
* [http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/tool-sheets/tool-sheets Tool sheets]: A brief about various tools for assessing integrity in the water sector. Some of the tool manuals are detailed below.
* [http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/images/stories/WIN_AWIS_Manual_Web.pdf AWIS: The Annotated Water integrity Scan] is a diagnostic tool for multi-stakeholder workshops to assess levels of integrity.
* [http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/images/stories/WIN_Library/win_ip_manual.pdf Integrity Pacts]: This tool can be used to improve integrity in procurement processes.
* [http://www.watergovernance.org/documents/WGF/Reports/Trainin_Manual/Final_training-manual-English.pdf Training manual on water Integrity] - This training manual deals with the issue of integrity and anti-corruption in the water.
* [http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/images/stories/Tool_Sheet_TAPrisk.pdf TAP Risks]- It is a tool that allows gaining a better understanding of the integrity of water service provision. The tool identifies relevant stakeholders and assesses the integrity of their relationships in terms of transparency, accountability and participation (TAP).
* [http://gateway.transparency.org/files/uploads/Education,_Health__Water_Topic_Guide.pdf Corruption Assessment in Basic Services]: Defines corruption assessment in basic services as these tools and methods which aim to diagnose corruption and/or corruption risks in the delivery of education, health and water and sanitation services.
* [http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/images/stories/WIN_Library/advocacy_guide_2010.pdf Advocacy Guide]: The Advocacy Guide is a toolbox for advocating and campaigning on water integrity action.
* [http://www.citizenreportcard.com/ Citizen Report Cards (CRC)]: This interactive learning tool is designed to assist individuals and organizations interested in carrying out a Citizen Report Card (CRC) study in the water and sanitation sector.
* [http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/es/videos/categorias/viewvideo/1955/webinar-why-water-and-integrity Webinar on water integrity]
* [http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203 Video links from Water Channel] will be shared on Corruption in WASH-community reports by Video Volunteers.
===Acknowledgements===