Thanks Paresh!

We just published a summary of the discussion that was held during the launch, along with a video. These are accessible here:
www.waterintegritynetwork.net/post/water...o-address-corruption

I think a few points that specifically came out of the discussion are:

• the need for collaboration with anti-corruption and governance organisations to focus on water and sanitation
• the potential of results-based financing
• the need for better data, transparency on expenditure and on the cost of capital and debt
• the fact that there are numerous tools to assess and manage integrity risks on investments and in organisations
• the difficult working conditions of many who work in public water and sanitation and the potential challenges of private management on worker rights.

Interesting for SuSanA readers, the urban sanitation sub-sector was specifically highlighted as having major red flags in terms of integrity or corruption risks in financing. We need to dig into this deeper and welcome feedback or discussion.

Thank you, Claire, for sharing this report. I hope you can also share key points of discussion from the launch event and a link to its recording.

I am also copying below some of the key messages from the report listed on the link  shared earlier. 

1. The cost of inaction on integrity is unacceptably high.
2. By far the greatest source of funding for water and sanitation is from water users.... Someone always pays. The most poor often pay more.
3. Shrinking civic space and climate change are compounding the integrity challenges in water and sanitation finance.
4. Starting today, there are three major opportunities for change:
   • Strengthening public financial management;
   • Enabling stakeholder engagement in water and sanitation; and
   • Promoting a culture of integrity for water and sanitation.
5. Effective integrity action combines three pathways for change. Digital innovation can boost all three of these pathways.
   • Ensuring there is 'no reason' and no rationalisation of corrupt behaviour,
   • Putting in place processes and oversight to leave 'no room' for corrupt acts, and
   • Detecting and sanctioning corruption so there can be 'no reprieve'

Regards
paresh

Dear all,
We are preparing the launch of the Water Integrity Global Outlook report on integrity for water and sanitation finance. Sanitation financing makes a lot of integrity issues and risks that come up in the report quite clear.
Why is sanitation underfunded, why are 'soft components' ignored or underfunded even more, and what can we do about it? How can we design better subsidy systems? How can we reduce risks in sanitation system planning?
The report point to integrity failures and corruption as contributors to the 'funding gap' and highlights ways to develop anti-corruption and integrity strategies for water and sanitation.
We need more insight on how to make this work specifically in sanitation. Should you have case studies or input, we would be eager to hear more.

In the meantime, you are welcome to join our launch event:
Global Launch: Water Integrity Global Outlook 3 -Improving Integrity for Water and Sanitation Finance
Wednesday, September 11, at 12:00 (CAT/CEST) / 13:00 (EAT) /16:00 (BST)
Register at waterintegrity.net/wigo3-launch

Find out:

• Where is the money? What integrity risks threaten it? How do we use existing funds better?
• How do we improve integrity in water and sanitation organisations and utilities?
• What role for civil society and regulators in ensuring accountability?

This global launch is a first discussion on report conclusions, with a keynote address from the CEO of the Open Government
Partnership, Sanjay Pradhan, and a discussion with our executive director and panellists from the World Bank (Saroj Jha), the Water Sector Trust Fund (Willis Ombai), IRC (Catarina Fonseca), and Public Services International (David Boys)

A preview of the WIGO report is also available at: www.waterintegritynetwork.net/water-inte...obal-outlook-finance
We welcome feedback.