SDC-funded project on Protocol on Water and Health

The  project “Implementation of targets under the UNECE- WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health in the Republic of Moldova”  supported by UNECE and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) successfully attained its overall objective of  strengthening the capacity of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to implement the national targets and target dates established under the Protocol in order to ensure that the population of Moldova, in particular the poor and vulnerable, benefit from improved access to safe water and sanitation.

Between 2012 and 2016 activities were carried out and specific objectives were successfully achieved under all outputs, in line with the project logical framework.

In particular, the official approval by the Government of the Republic of Moldova on 13 July 2016 of the National Programme on implementing targets set under the Protocol represents a major milestone for improving the situation with water and health in the country in the coming years. The National Programme – core output of the project – includes the revised national targets under the Protocol, a concise action plan defining specific activities to be carried out to achieve the targets and target dates and the financial strategy to mobilize resources towards its implementation. It is a complex and comprehensive document which aims at serving as a platform combining water and health related objectives in accordance with policies of all relevant ministries and departments as opposed to the current situation with fragmented measures under responsibility of different institutions. The National Programme also represents an opportunity for streamlining and coordinating the activities of different donors in the area of water and health in Moldova.

Other important results achieved under the project include the development and official approval of a number of norms and standards on small scale supplies and sanitation aiming at filling gaps in the Moldovan legislation, including through provision of normative framework to the ApaSan developed models such as ecosan toilets or constructed wetlands already implemented in Moldova, as well as at reviewing the obsolete small scale supplies and sanitation standards to bring them in accordance with the European Union requirements. A number of trainings were also conducted under the project to build capacity of urban and rural water operators in the Republic of Moldova with regard to modern approaches to the management of water supply and sanitation systems including regionalization, compliance with EU directives and water safety plans.

The project also achieved its goals with regard to raising awareness of the Moldovan civil society on the issues of water and health in general and on the Protocol on Water and Health in particular through a large number of stakeholder meetings organized at national and local level throughout the project. Moreover, outreach activities to promote the National Programme and the overall results of the project to the Moldovan population took place in September 2016 and enjoyed extensive media coverage. Furthermore, information center established under the project under the auspices of the National Center for Public Health – the Clearing House – is expected to continue providing information on the situation with water and health and the implementation of the National Programme to the Moldovan population also after the end of the project.

Overall, the project had a significant impact in Moldova in terms of promoting intersectoral approach and breaking the silos between the water and health sectors, in line with the spirit of the Protocol on Water and Health and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project also promoted good governance through strengthening the implementation of modern governance approaches – from strategic planning to resource mobilization and accountability (including through reporting under the Protocol in 2013 and 2016, NGO involvement in the project Steering Committee and public participation).

Thanks to the project, the experience of Moldova was also extensively promoted to other countries that are working on establishing linkages between water, sanitation and health issues. The transfer of Moldovan experience took place during a number of national and subregional workshops in the pan-European region and other Protocol events as well as at important regional and global meetings such as the third and the fourth sessions of the Protocol Meeting of the Parties (Oslo, 25-27 November 2013, and Geneva, 14-16 November 2016, respectively) and the World Water Week 2016 (Stockholm, 28 August–2 September 2016). International community particularly appreciated sharing of experience with regard to the elaboration of an action plan to implement targets under the Protocol and the financial mobilization strategy as well as in relation to the intersectoral cooperation and public participation, with a number of Protocol Parties and other States (e.g. Norway, Serbia, Kazakhstan) currently working on replicating the project approaches in their countries.

Future work under the Protocol on Water and Health in the Republic of Moldova is expected to further strengthen the impact of the project. In particular, UNECE is planning to use the Moldovan National Policy Dialogue platform to facilitate the implementation of the National Programme, including possible support to implementing some “soft” targets set in the National Programme. UNECE also stands ready to continue cooperating with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, SDC and other donor organizations to ensure sustainability of the project results beyond its finalization.