Next course: Preventing Corruption in Water 6-8 Sep 2010

The next course in The Hague, Netherlands will be from 6 to 8 September 2010. Earlier, it is expected that one or two courses will be organised in Africa (dates and locations still be confirmed but likely to include Mozambique in early 2010)

A training workshop organised by the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

A lack of transparency in decision making and poor accountability between citizens/consumers, service providers and regulators are weak links in the governance of the water and environmental sanitation sector in many countries , opening the door to corruption. Available research suggests that a large proportion of investments are wasted as a result, with severe negative impacts on the equity and sustainability of services. Conditions of scarcity with a lack of access to services, monopoly with a limited number of providers, and institutional complexity in a fragmented sector, present ideal opportunities for corruption to proliferate. Problems span public and private institutions and large and small projects at international and local levels. Building stronger systems of transparency, integrity and accountability is the key to preventing corruption, and to improving local water governance and delivering better services.

Course programme

1. Introduction to water sector governance issues. This first module provides an introduction to governance issues generally and specifically within the water sector. It also introduces international and national conventions, legislation and institutional issues that provide the enabling environment for effective actions to improve transparency, integrity and accountability within the sector. [Module length 2 hours]
2. How serious is corruption in water? Measurement of levels of corruption is notoriously difficult. This module reviews the latest available research and the use of indirect evidence or proxies that can be used to infer levels of corruption in the water sector. Different types of corruption will be unpacked and key definitions and concepts introduced. Examples will be considered across all the sectors: water supply, environmental sanitation, water resources management, hydropower, and irrigation. Participants’ own experiences will also be shared (these experiences will then be revisited during subsequent sessions and exercises). [Module length 4 hours]
3. Corruption risk mapping. Prevention is likely to be the focus of most sector-initiated action. Understanding where corruption may occur is the key to design of successful programmes to prevent it. This module introduces a framework to understand where different types of corruption may develop, and methodologies to map corruption risks linking corruption, early warning indicators and preventive measures. The risks of corruption for the services that poor people rely upon will be emphasised. [Module length 4 hours]
4. Taking action. Participants will learn about specific strategies and tools to improve access to information, transparency and accountability that are suited to sector-focused corruption prevention programmes. Most time will be devoted to measures to build accountability including initiatives led by regulators including citizens reports cards, and more grassroots social accountability actions and strengthen voice. Other sessions focus on procurement processes and integrity pacts, and the use of freedom of information legislation in the sector. [Module length 8 hours]
5. Moving forwards and mitigating risks. The final session addresses how to mitigate risks in initiating anti-corruption actions in the sector including: how to initiate and facilitate processes to manage conflicts, the advantages of acting in partnership, and how to ensure that anti-corruption activities do not simply shift corruption to other areas and harden its nature. This module will also cover specific methods to target the poor and to mitigate potentially harmful impacts of anti-corruption initiatives on the most vulnerable users of water services. Part of the session is dedicated to supporting participants to develop their own action plans [Module length 4 hours]

Who should attend?

The course is targeted at government, donor, embassy and bank officials responsible for management of projects within the water sector, consultants, non-governmental organisation staff and other professionals involved in the execution of development-related water projects, and journalists and legal professionals interested to learn about issues in preventing water corruption.

Learning objectives and methods

Participants attending the course will be able to plan anti-corruption initiatives in the water sector on the basis of the latest available research and evidence. They will be equipped with tools to use to understand the complexity of corruption in the sector, and tools and approaches to take positive, prevention-focused actions to improve systems of integrity and accountability.

The course is organised by the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, one of the founder members of the Water Integrity Network. The main trainers will be:

• Peter Ryan: Peter has a background in engineering consultancy, and prior to joining IRC, led WaterAid’s programme in local accountability known as Citizens Action.
• Alana Potter: Alana has extensive southern African experience and previously worked for Mvula Trust, one of South Africa’s most respected water sector NGOs. Currently she is advising on the implementation of citizen’s reports cards and other social accountability tools to improve service performance in East Africa.
• John Butterworth: John is an active member of the Water Integrity Network, and was a contributor to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report in 2008 on water. He has a water resources management background.
• Cor Dietvorst: Cor is an information specialist, editor of the popular WASH sector newsletter Source-Weekly and has a special interest in issues of freedom of information.

Colleagues and invited visiting experts will provide additional examples and experience in specific sessions. The course will combine expert presentations from key resource persons combined with discussion, exercises and group work based upon the participants own experiences and other examples. These interactive sessions will be based on adult-learning principles and will emphasise analysis of cases, and real life examples. Participants will be provided with a range of learning and resource materials for use in their follow up activities.

Fees and further information

The course fee including materials, lunches and a welcome dinner will be €950 (€475 for organisations in the south) to be paid at least 1 month before the start of the course. The course will be restricted to a maximum of 20 participants on a first-come-first-served basis. Participants should plan to arrive in the Hague on the Sunday before the course in time for dinner, and to depart on the Thursday afterwards. Participants need to cover their own travel, visa, accommodation costs and meals (except for lunches and one course dinner included in the fee). Standard accommodation in the Hague hotels costs around €90 per night but may cost more unless bookings are made well in advance. Participants are recommended to budget around €140 per day to cover all normal expenses including airport transfer by train, meals and local travel. Hotel bookings will be made for participants if requested when completing the registration form with fee payment.

For payment details and to register please download the registration form.

For further information please contact preventingcorruption@irc.nl.