Free Online Training Course for Water Integrity: Principles and Concepts

​The water crisis is known to everybody. 844 million people around the world lack access to safe reliable drinking water facilities. The critical weaknesses of the water sector (scarcity, equitable distribution, access) can be solved only by providing a more transparent, participatory and accountable water management.

Integrity, accountability and anti-corruption are critical in governing the resources and in providing qualitative service for all. These principles need to frame policy reforms and enforcement.

On a global scale, the levels of capacity and coordination to protect and improve vulnerable water resources and services are becoming inadequate. Water governance is not effective and is hindered further by an increasingly more complex and multi-faceted corruption. Poor and marginalized communities, people who are the least empowered to speak out against these issues, are the most affected. In this context integrity and anti-corruption are some of the least addressed areas in the governance of water resources and services.

Fighting corruption requires leadership and courage, but also demands knowledge of the phenomenon to stimulate new capacities and boost change in water resources management. This online course is meant to offer a "grain" of the needed knowledge required by water practitioners, public officials, NGO personnel, and anybody else who want to contribute to increase the efficiency and integrity of water management. The course explains the principles and concepts of water integrity and helps depicting concrete applications in the daily life of water experts.

There is no course fee. Sponsored by a partnership of international development organisations, the course is free.

Interested participants must apply for this course before Friday, September 14th, 2018.

About this Course

This onlice course aims to create awareness and strengthen water governance through increased knowledge on how to improve transparency and accountability.

By the end of the course participants will:

• understand the main concepts and principles behind water integrity, transparency, and accountability; as well as the ways in which corruption may occur in the water sector, its drivers, and impacts;
• understand the need for effective changes and be familiar with tools that can be applied to achieve water integrity;
• be familiar with examples of good practices related to promoting integrity, accountability and combating corruption in the water sector.
• have access to useful up-to-date materials in support of specific subject areas for water integrity.

Course structure

The course is structured by modules. Each module will run for one week, during which course participants must read basic contents and participate in suggested activities.

In all modules, participants are expected to:

• Read basic contents
• Participate in the modules´ forum
• Prepare an individual assignment (when applicable)
• Respond a set of multiple choice questions

Participants will also have access to recommended readings, videos, and suggested websites. 

Registration

Interested participants must complete the online registration form, before Friday, September 14th, 2018. In addition to contact information, the online form requires participants to provide the following information:

Required: A short profile: describing educational and professional background; experience in water resources management, capacity development or decision making on water; participation in networks and/or alliances; any other relevant information related to the course subject.

Required: Motivation and commitment text: explaining your interest in participating in the course; availability to dedicate at least 4 hours per week during the course duration and participate in the course activities; and your expectations in terms of how you will apply and share the acquired contents in your field of work and with your colleagues.

Optional: A 1-page letter of institutional support: through which the institution where you work expresses interest in your participation in the course; explains why this will be an important training for you and the institution.

​Source: Cap-Net