Session 4

Mapping risks areas for potential corruption in water licensing in

Kazakhstan

Marie Laberge, UNDP Oslo Water Governance Centre

What are the main ‘corruption risks’ in the Kazakh water licensing system?

1. License application process: Potential to influence the awarding process

2. Content of the licence: Possibility to influence amount of water, timing, kind and amount of pollutant, etc.

3. Bidding and trading procedures: Opportunities to influence the bidding mechanism

4. Enforcement of licence: Possibilities to avoid consequences of infringements (poor control measurement, paying bribes, etc.)

Towards the formulation of a Integrity Vulnerability Mitigation Plan

Preventive actions to reduce the risk of corruption in water licensing

Risk area no.1: Licence application processSimplification of procedures for licensing Improving public access to information concerning water

licence applicationMeasures (regulation?) for more equitable water allocation to

avoid that powerful buyers capture the ‘market’

Towards the formulation of a Integrity Vulnerability Mitigation Plan

Preventive actions to reduce the risk of corruption in water licensing

Risk area no.4: Enforcement of licence Application of more informal, traditional and local control mechanisms Strengthen mechanisms (incl. laws & resources) to redress abuses Strengthen monitoring capacity (imrpove pollution/water use data)

Towards the formulation of a Integrity Vulnerability Mitigation Plan

Preventive actions to reduce the risk of corruption in water licensing

Cross-cutting Improve staff conditions (transparent recruitment, increase salaries) Stimulating public discussion about the need to reduce corruption risks Encourage CSOs & media to signal malpractice / abuse of power (to balance

lobbying power of private sector) Protecting whistleblowers and creating opportunities for anonymous reporting

of problems Improving public access to information concerning water

licence application, monitoring and enforcement (e.g. Public access to annual reports of agencies involved)