The document discusses corruption risks in Kazakhstan's water licensing system and proposes actions to reduce those risks. It identifies four main risk areas: the license application process, the license content, bidding and trading procedures, and license enforcement. It then provides examples of preventive actions that could be taken to address each risk area, such as simplifying licensing procedures, improving transparency, strengthening monitoring and enforcement, and protecting whistleblowers. Cross-cutting actions are also proposed, like improving staff conditions, encouraging public discussion and oversight, and enhancing access to information.

1. Session 4 Mapping risks areas for potential corruption in water licensing in Kazakhstan Marie Laberge, UNDP Oslo Water Governance Centre

2. What are the main ‘corruption risks’ in the Kazakh water licensing system? License application process: Potential to influence the awarding process Content of the licence: Possibility to influence amount of water, timing, kind and amount of pollutant, etc. Bidding and trading procedures: Opportunities to influence the bidding mechanism Enforcement of licence: Possibilities to avoid consequences of infringements (poor control measurement, paying bribes, etc.)

3. 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 process Simplification of procedures for licensing Improving public access to information concerning water licence application Measures (regulation?) for more equitable water allocation to avoid that powerful buyers capture the ‘market’

4. 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)

5. 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)