CETRAD activities are implemented in the framework of the following three fields: 1) Water and natural resource management and governance; 2) Sustainable rural and agrarian transformation; and 3) Integrated knowledge management for sustainable development; and activities of which are framed around the main thrusts that include:
Thrust 1: Water and natural resources management and governance
Thrust 2: Regional development and agrarian transformation
Thrust 3: Livelihood dynamics and centre-periphery gradients
Thrust 4: Integrated knowledge management and capacity development
Thrust 5: Platform for context sensitive and fair research endeavours
CETRAD runs a rich hydromet data and information base generated from its long term and comprehensive monitoring network in the upper Ewaso Ngiro North river basin. Most of this data is now linked through a real time transmission system and interfaced to its database as well as to some selected Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs) in the upstream areas.