Building a social movement against corruption in the WASH sector

Much needed resources for WASH services are lost when corruption at all levels of the 'service delivery chain' continues to be treated as a separate issue in WASH initiatives. Interrogating how corruption is manifested at all levels and recognising that it is merely not an issue of the 'developing south' are important steps that will need to be taken by the WASH sector as a whole.

In her keynote address, Kathy Shordt proposed for the WASH sector to: a) consider creating a strong social movement that comprises a diverse set of developmental actors internal and external to the WASH sector; and b) for the sector to orient itself with existing tools that measure corruption (already available and applied by sectors other than WASH).

During the open forum, some challenges to including corruption as an agenda item in WASH discourse and its activities were identified. These include:
a) the pervasiveness of corruption in today's society;
b) the role of norms and practises in contributing to (or strengthening) corruption; and
c) 'corruption' as a sensitive subject that may restrict or limit opportunities for partnership building.

Despite the very significant challenges all these pose to the sustainable delivery of WASH services, Shordt claims that what may strike the sector as a hopeless situation at this time -- may not be so hopeless tomorrow.

Citing the successful experience of the people's struggles in demanding for policy change in access to information in India -- Shordt demonstrated how a social movement (whether formal or informal) may serve as a viable vehicle for change in society.

In response to corruption serving as a sensitive topic in many countries -- Shordt ended her keynote by challenging the participants of the symposium to develop innovative forms of communication that advocate and signal anti-corruption messages (e.g. street theater; language use) -- also taking stock of and learning from the work of other developmental actors (i.e. UNICEF).