Activities in this area aim at providing assistance to Parties in setting targets and target dates, as stipulated in the article 6 of the Protocol. To this end the Task Force on Indicators and Reporting, led by Switzerland, was established at the first session of the Meeting of the Parties and was entrusted with the preparation of guidelines on target-setting. The Task Force prepared the Guidelines on the setting of targets, evaluation of progress and reporting .
The first reporting cycle conducted under the Protocol in 2009/2010 demonstrated that remarkable progress has been done by Parties and substantial experience is available. At the same time several challenges remain, in particular related to difficulties with cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination of activities among different authorities responsible for management of water resources, water supply, sanitation and health; as well as prioritization of activities, and involvement of the public in the implementation of the Protocol.
The second reporting cycle is being held in 2012/2013. The third session of the Meeting of the Parties, scheduled for 25-27 November 2013, will evaluate progress in implementing the Protocol on the basis of the summary reports provided by Parties. In accordance with the established procedures, the deadline for submission of summary reports is 29 April 2013.
The activities in the Workplan of the Protocol for 2011-2013 under this area focus on supporting implementation of articles 6 and 7 and the development of good practices. In particular, the Task Force on Target Setting and Reporting (renamed after the Task Force on Indicators and Reporting at the second Meeting of the Parties) will guide, overview and promote the exchange of lessons learned and good practice gathered through a pan-European programme of exchange of experience in water and health within small groups of countries with similar conditions and challenges, possibly neighbouring countries. To this end, a number of subregional workshops will be organized, under the leadership of the Parties. The first of the sub-regional workshops between the countries of Eastern Europe was held on 5-6 April 2011 in Minsk, Belarus, and it offered a platform for exchange of experience and lessons learned by Parties that had already set targets under the Protocol and the Parties that were planning to initiate the target-setting process. The second sub-regional workshop on water and health in Central Europe and on the implementation of the UNECE/WHO-Europe Protocol on Water and Health was held on 8-9 May 2012 in Bratislava, Slovakia. A seminar for Nordic and Baltic countries "Drinking water and sanitation in a Nordic and Baltic perspective - common challenges and collaboration" was organized on 7-8 November 2012 in Oslo, Norway.
Some Parties have already set targets and target dates (more information available), to fulfill their international obligations and pave the way for comprehensive implementation of the Protocol. In May 2011, the Republic of Moldova has issued the publication Setting targets and target dates under the Protocol on Water and Health in the Republic of Moldova.
