Water Integrity in Latin America: a mapping exercise
A call for proposals from Cap-Net/UNDP and the UNDP Water Governance
Facility at SIWI
Mapping of Integrity and Accountability in Water Activities and Relevant Capacities in the Latin
American Region and partnership development for a water integrity capacity development
programme in Latin America
1. Background
Integrity, honesty and anti-corruption are hitherto some of the least addressed areas in the governance
of water resources and services. Until now, it has been either neglected or not factored in systematically
to the formulation and implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) policies.
Since integrity, accountability and corruption are critical determinants of how water resources and
services are governed and allocated, it is important to include them in a forceful and systematic way in
water policy reform and implementation.
The past years have shown some promising signs and decision makers, development practitioners and
researchers are increasingly focusing attention to improve water integrity, through for example various
types of anti-corruption measures. Importantly, improved integrity, accountability, and application of
anti-corruption measures provide a force to be reckoned with to reduce poverty, and to allocate and
distribute water resources and services in fair and efficient ways.
The mapping exercise will provide a base for continued work and to establish partnerships with new
institutions and link up to relevant processes of accountability and integrity in the region. The work will
also benefit related work of, Cap-Net/UNDP, UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI (WGF), as well as
the Water Integrity Network (WIN).
A previous exercise was made in southern Africa in 2008, where WaterNet, CapNet, WGF, and WIN
undertook a “Mapping on Integrity and Accountability in Water Activities and Relevant Capacities in the
SADC-Region”. The current project aims to learn from this experience by its fruitful use in Latin America.
The following is outlining the assignment that will contribute to a mapping and analysis of ongoing anticorruption activities, that is the promotion and application of transparency, accountability and
participation, in the Latin Americanregion (selected countries as well as regional) and identify relevant
actors.
2. Justification and objectives
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The mapping exercise is a contribution to objectives shared in the framework of improving water
governance to advance poverty reduction and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
by Cap-Net/UNDP, UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI (WGF), as well as the Water Integrity
Network (WIN). These institutions embrace the promotion of sustainable development of water
resources, including water supply and sanitation services.
Important working areas are promoting and supporting water governance reform and integrated water
resources management (IWRM) strategies at local, national and international (transboundary) levels;
and developing this support with an important commitment to work with issues of integrity,
accountability and anti-corruption in water as a means towards improving water governance reform and
IWRM strategies at various levels. This also includes to advance on the application of human rights
based approaches to water, and; to further development and dissemination of capacity building tools
and water governance tools.
2.1 Objectives
The overall objective of this assignment is to support a capacity development programme for water
integrity in Latin America. A mapping and a brief assessment of processes related to strengthening
integrity and accountability in water and actors will provide a systematic entry-point of where and how
to work with these issues as well as identifying potential partners. The mapping of ongoing processes,
relevant actors and their capacities, should be seen as a first step towards the further development of
an integrity programme in the region.
The assignment will also assist in defining the content of a training programme in integrity and
accountability as well as identifying institutions/individuals in the region that can play a role in the
formulation as well as implementation of a training programme. Similarly, it will provide a solid
knowledge base for expanding partners’ activities in the region.
The objectives include:

To develop a water integrity map for Latin America, focused in current initiatives and organisations
working and promoting an improvement in accountability, integrity, and transparency in relation to
water resources management in Latin America. The scope will consider aspects of both IWRM and
water infrastructure development, identifying key elements, existing capacities, stakeholders, and
training needs for water integrity in Latin America.

To explore forming a partnership for water integrity in Latin America;

To elaborate a capacity development programme for water integrity in Latin America.
3. Tasks
The consultants will perform the following tasks:
i) Map, identify, and analyze relevant regional and national (in select countries) processes (such as,
policy processes, legislative developments, programmes and projects, capacity development, etc) on
integrity and anti-corruption in water:
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o
Analyze regional processes, such as the Convención Interamericana contra la Corrupción related
work on anti-corruption relevant for the water sector, etc.
o
Analyze national processes.
ii) Map, identify and analyze regional and national relevant organizations/networks (in selected
countries) and assess their capacities to work with integrity, accountability and anti-corruption in
water.
o
Examples of organizational types include, government agencies, NGOs, research institutes,
bilateral and multilateral organizations such as donors, Interamerican Development Bank, the
World Bank, and the UN-system.
iii) In selected Latin American countries, assess ongoing water reform (decentralization, privatization,
water rights and licensing/permits, etc) in relation to integrity and anti-corruption activities. A
particular item that should be analyzed is the positive/negative impacts of the introduction of the
IWRM on integrity and accountability. This can for example be done through a SWOT-analysis.
o
Countries will be selected based on criteria developed by the consultant and on consultation
with Cap-Net/UNDP and the UNDP WGF at SIWI
o
The assessment should, among other things, propose a number of lessons learned and challenge
areas and possible areas of support.
iv) Provide analysis on how partners can support regional and national processes and activities; for
example, in supporting capacity development programmes and other types of programme
formulation and implementation, support in policy formulation and implementation, etc, in relation
to integrity, accountability, and anti-corruption.
o
The mapping should cover how integrity, accountability, and transparency are being promoted
at all relevant components of the water sector, such as infrastructure projects, procurement and
contracting, water supply and sanitation, water resources and other relevant areas. The
mapping should also look at the urban and rural dimensions of water resources and water
services. It is also essential to cover various sectors such as the private and public to analyse
among other things the supply and demand of corruption.
o
The consultant should also investigate organizations, which are not directly perceived as water
organizations. For example, at the government level various types of anti-corruption agencies
and commissions can have a strong bearing and role pertaining to the water sector. There can
also exists several “non-water” NGOs, such as national chapters of Transparency International,
that are involved in activities related to improving integrity and accountability that are directly
or indirectly linked to water service provision and resources.
o
Since WGF and Cap-Net are UNDP programmes, it is important that relevant UNDP country
offices and other entities in the region be consulted. In addition, it is critical that the consultant
links up with and makes use of the Water Integrity Network (WIN), which can be a critical source
of information. In addition, the national chapters of Transparency International (TI) can be
another vital source of information along with other in-country organizations.
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o
The consultant should also consult with Cap-Net/UNDP to draw on their knowledge base and
experiences. Particularly with regard to:
-Identifying priority capacity building areas.
-Identifying suitable training programme content.
o
It is expected that large proportion of the work can be done as a desk study. Information can be
obtained through internet-based resources, review of existing literature as well as identifying
and contacting relevant actors via email, telephone, etc. However, some travel in the region may
be required for interviews and collection of additional material, particularly regarding the
assessment of select countries.
o
It is envisaged that the consultants can be facilitators to the training programme development
and implementation.
o
The consultant will liaise closely with and report to Ms. Maria Jacobson at the UNDP WGF and
Mr. Kees Leendertse at Cap-Net.
4. Outputs
Output 1.
Water Integrity Map in Latin America
A study will be elaborated which brings light on current initiatives and organisations working and
promoting an improvement in accountability, integrity, and transparency in relation to water resources
management in Latin America.
It will map some of the processes, institutions, organisations, laws, policies and projects active in
promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in the water sector in the selected countries of
Latin America. The study will also identify capacity-building needs for water integrity. The main report
should be on approximately 33 pages, excluding annexes.
The report will be written in Spanish and will be later translated to English.
Suggested outline:
Executive summary
1 page
Introduction (objective, methodology, limitations)
2 pages
Context description: water resources management in Latin America and 3 pages
the importance of water integrity.
Country water studies:
3 pages per country (18-20
pages total 6 countries)
Water laws, policies, institutional arrangements
Water sector reforms, IWRM
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Mapping of key components: organisations, stakeholders, their roles and
responsibilities
Capacity building needs
Comparative overview
IWRM and promotion integrity
2 pages
Potential areas of intervention
2 pages
Recommendations and conclusions
3 pages
Total
33 pages
References
Annexes
5 pages
-Definitions and acronyms
-Organisations visited
-Key figures in selected countries
-Comparative analysis of transparency and integrity measures in selected
countries.
Output 2.
A proposal for a regional workshop to formalise a partnership for a capacity
development programme for water integrity in Latin America
The mapping process will facilitate the identification of organisations working on, and demanding
capacity building, for water integrity. As these are identified, reference persons will be contacted both
to get their inputs for the mapping report and also to explore their interest, capacities, resources, and
potential roles (either providing or demanding) in a regional capacity development programme. The
proposal will engage and draw on expertise in Cap-Net affiliated capacity development networks in the
region.
A proposal will be elaborated to hold a regional workshop. The proposal will include a list of
participants; workshop programme; facilitators; budget; and host identified (organisation, country,
venue, and suggested date).
The regional workshop which will be organised will have the following objectives:
o
Presenting the water integrity map for Latin America;
o
Levelling capacities on water integrity;
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o
Formalising a partnership for a water integrity capacity development programme in Latin
America;
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Setting the bases for a regional capacity development programme in Latin America, involving
Cap-Net affiliated networks.
5. Time-table for the assignment
The consultant will propose a detailed timetable not to exceed 6 months for the study and workshop
6. Required competencies/skills
The proposal needs to include to following expertise:
-
proven experience in water and governance
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proven experience in water management capacity development
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consultants will have advanced degrees in subjects related to rersources management and
capacity development
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a minimum of 10 years experience in these subjects with relevant international exposure to
integrity and accountability
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Experience in facilitation in water integrity
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Fluency in both English and Spanish, and fluency in Portuguese would be an asset
7. Financial proposal
The proposal will have a detailed budget including the costs for consultancies, travel, reporting, and the
organisation and conduct of the regional workshop.
The deadline for the proposal is October 15 and should be sent to Maria Jacobson, email
maria.jacobson@siwi.org and Kees Leendertse, email kees.leendertse@cap-net.org
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