News stories
News items on corruption issues and measures to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in the water sector from IRC's newsletter Source Weekly.
World Bank: alleged corruption in water project Armenia
17 Jan 08
Bruce Tasker, a former World Bank consultant has a conflict with the World Bank on the alleged corruption, fraud and embezzlement in a bank- sponsored water project in Armenia.
Asian Development Bank: high accountability ranking challenged by NGOs
17 Jan 08
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) got the second highest ranking out of 30 international organisations in the 2007 Global Accountability Report. In a reaction the NGO Forum on ADB said “it is insulting to all communities affected by poorly implemented ADB-funded projects”.
India: utility under-pricing must be addressed to solve infrastructure deficit, says World Bank
11 Jan 08
India needs to invest an estimated additional US$ 500 billion during the next plan to close its “massive infrastructure deficit”. However, if the under-pricing of utilities, politcial patronage and poor management are not addressed, this may not be enough, says a World Bank representative.
South Asia: regional workshop adopts declaration on transparency in the water sector
20 Nov 07
A three-day regional workshop on transparency in the water sector, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during 3-5 November 2007, has called for the effective control of corruption.
Pakistan, Islamabad: high-tech wastewater treatment plant, crumbling sewers
15 Nov 07
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is accused of failing to properly manage Islamabad’s sewer system. It opted for a “hugely over-priced French sewerage system” without first rehabilitating the crumbling sewerage lines, and without considering alternative decentralised sanitation options.
Corruption prevention: how output-based aid can help in infrastructure projects
07 Nov 07
Corruption in infrastructure leads to big losses. Estimates of the share of construction spending lost to bribe payments around the world range from 5 per cent to more than 20 per cent. It is important to reduce the financial cost of corruption by limiting bribe payments. But even more important is to ensure that corruption does not reduce the quantity and quality of infrastructure provision. Output-based aid (OBA) is a tool that can help achieve these goals.
Kenya: alleged corruption at Mavoko-EPZA Water and Sewerage Company
06 Nov 07
The one-year-old Mavoko-EPZA Water and Sewerage Company in Kenya is in the spotlight over allegations of corruption in water billing and disquiet among employees, news media in Kenya reported.
China: pollution data proves too hot to handle
27 Jul 07
The World Bank is accused of bowing to pressure, in cutting about a third of its report on the cost of pollution in China. The World Bank says China is still committed to the cause.
Norconsult: risks debarment from World Bank contracts
12 Jun 07
Norconsult International, a major player in the Norwegian aid market, has come under corruption scrutiny by the World Bank and now risks blacklisting and debarment from Bank projects.
Zimbabwe, Namibia: examples of corruption
12 Jun 07
Zimbabwe's urban residents have to grease the palms of officials to ensure they can get access to water supply and sanitation services. In Namibia community members manning water points in villages should be paid for their work, says Henock Kankoshi, a Swapo MP in the National Council.
