Climate change is increasing pressure on already scarce global water supplies, while conflict and competition over access to suitable water are now well-established problems. This makes the fight against corruption more urgent than ever. We need to respond at both global and local levels.

We must press governments and international agencies to strengthen the regulation of water management. And to enforce those regulations. By joining international climate control schemes, governments can help safeguard water sources for future generations. Governments and companies must work together. Staff need the right training and resources. Water contracts must be awarded and carried out accountably, and private companies must be pressed to behave more ethically when it comes to water and sanitation. Toward these ends, we work collaboratively with all stakeholders to spread ideas and solutions that reduce corruption risks while improving service delivery.

It’s vital to listen to poor people. They can sense when corruption restricts their access to water, but the complexity of the water and sanitation sectors often makes pinpointing the source of corruption difficult. If communities can express their needs, corruption can be uncovered and blocked. Civil society can help by monitoring water projects, but we need the right information. It must be clear and easily understood, even in specialised areas like hydropower. Then we can check policies, money flows and delivery standards. So corruption can’t taint our most vital resource. Go back to the problem