Our Commitments: Ethics, Safeguarding & Accountability

Corruption and fraud erode trust and weaken the foundations of social, economic, and democratic systems. Cowater International views these practices as major barriers to sustainable development and effective governance. We take proactive steps to prevent, detect, and eliminate any form of corruption or fraud in our operations, including bribery, blackmail, kickbacks, misuse of confidential information, theft, and other unethical conduct. Our teams are trained and held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and transparency.

Cowater International recognizes the risks of human trafficking and modern slavery within complex global supply chains and challenging operational environments. We are committed to upholding anti-trafficking and anti-slavery principles across all projects, ensuring that our procurement, recruitment, and partner engagement processes protect the rights and dignity of all people.

Prevention of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Cowater International is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. We recognize that climate change poses real and immediate risks to sustainable development and that our sector has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead in reducing emissions.

Our approach combines environmentally responsible corporate practices with project-level investments that promote renewable energy, climate resilience, and green job creation. We continue to strengthen our policies and reporting systems to ensure measurable progress toward a low-carbon future.

Carbon Reduction Plan

Cowater International upholds the principles of child protection and the rights of children as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to any form of abuse, exploitation, or harm involving children in our programs or operations. Safeguards are built into our project design, implementation, and monitoring processes to ensure every child we engage with is treated with dignity and care.

Cowater International’s Data Protection Programme (DPP) ensures compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws, including Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We collect and manage personal data responsibly, maintaining confidentiality, security, and transparency at all times.

Privacy Notice for Talent Acquisition
Privacy Notice for Website Use

Cowater International does not promote its services through unsolicited communications (“spam”) in any form. We do not authorize any third party to use our name or brand in connection with unsolicited messages. All communications from Cowater are directed only to individuals or organizations with whom we have an existing or consent-based relationship.

Cowater International is committed to ensuring that our activities cause no environmental, social, or economic harm. We apply a Do No Harm approach to protect the welfare and livelihoods of people and communities, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples. Our teams also integrate conflict sensitivity into all programming to ensure that our work remains conflict-neutral or actively contributes to peace and stability.

Cowater International maintains full responsibility for the safety and security of its personnel and partners. Our Duty of Care framework exceeds compliance standards and is grounded in ISO 31000 Risk Management principles, guiding security risk assessment, mitigation, and crisis management globally. Our approach is proactive and intelligence-led, enabling safe operations and continuity in fragile and high-risk contexts. Supported by preparedness systems and integrated with Cowater’s wider governance frameworks—including fraud control, aid-diversion prevention, and financial oversight—it ensures the safe, effective, and accountable delivery of projects across a growing multi-country portfolio.

Cowater International recognizes its responsibility as a steward of the environment.
We are committed to:

1. Fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time;
2. Ensuring full compliance with donor and local environmental regulations; and
3. Promoting sound environmental practices across our company, supply chains, and project activities.

We continuously seek to manage risks efficiently and maximize positive environmental outcomes.

Environmental Policy Statement

Cowater is firmly committed to advancing gender equality and enabling the empowerment of women and girls, while practicing and promoting non-discrimination of all kinds. We are taking numerous steps to support gender equality, disability and social inclusion across our projects and operations. We support the promotion and achievement of equality between girls and boys, men and women, and gender-diverse people, irrespective of identity factors such as sex, age, religion, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, or ability/disability.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy

Cowater is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace across all our global operations and we support personnel and stakeholders with disabilities, ensuring they can participate fully and equitably in our programs and corporate teams. We commit to fostering a non-discriminatory environment by supporting and enabling the empowerment of those with disabilities in alignment with our core values of integration and inclusion. In doing so, we will maintain the dignity, independence, and respect of all members within our organization aligning to Canadian, European and Australian Governments, and supports Cowater’s mission to advance inclusive development outcomes.  We consider the diverse needs and rights of individuals with disabilities across all aspects of our organizational operations.

Inclusive and Accessible Workplace Policy

Cowater International fosters a culture of respect, fairness, and ethical conduct. We are committed to maintaining safe, inclusive, and accessible workplaces that reflect our core values of integrity, equity, compassion, and dignity. We have zero tolerance for any form of workplace violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, or behaviour that undermines accessibility or inclusion.

Cowater acknowledges that the corporate sector has a crucial role to play in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. As an equal opportunity employer, Cowater recognizes the historical and ongoing injustice faced by Indigenous Peoples and the intergenerational impacts of unjust systems, structures, and policies, both past and present, on their communities. Additionally, as a leading management consulting firm within the international development sector, we recognize that Indigenous Peoples around the world, while having vastly diverse cultures, identities, and aspirations, are often marginalized and discriminated against, including through removal from their lands, denial of their culture, violence and intimidation.  

Commitment to Indigenous Peoples

Cowater is committed to building and preserving a positive working environment where employees and contractors are equipped to understand and reflect on the widespread problem of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment; have the freedom to express concerns and report issues without fear of retaliation; and are encouraged to participate in the prevention of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment in the workplace.

Cowater upholds a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. We are morally, ethically, and legally obligated to ensure the safety and welfare of all individuals delivering or benefiting from our projects. All allegations are promptly and thoroughly investigated, and appropriate disciplinary or legal action is taken as required.