The cost for the poor
Corruption is not gender neutral; it impacts women and men differently, especially when it comes to corruption in the water sector. In many countries, gender roles prescribe water-gathering responsibilities to women and girls. Responsibility for water provision has been shown to decrease women’s productive capacity and therefore lower household income, in addition to leaving little or no time for women and girls to study, participate in decision-making at all levels or to engage in sport and leisure activities
In a 2012 study commissioned by UNDP in collaboration with the Huairou Commission, a global coalition of grassroots women´s organizations, participant women in 11 communities across eight countries were asked to select areas of engagement with public agencies in which bribery occurs most frequently (i.e. when do they experience corruption when interacting with public agencies). The most popular option selected was being asked to pay bribes while attempting to secure basic services (39%), including the provision of water.