CETRAD's Mission and Objectives

Mission

• Assess the potential and utilisation of the ASAL.
• Enhance knowledge among planners and development agents of the ASAL.
• Empower local communities through information dissemination to enable them to participate effectively in the ASAL development process.

Objectives

1. Training and Human Resource Development: CETRAD offers practical and filed-based and/or oriented training to practising government and NGO officers and students interested in ASAL development problems and related issues. This component of training focuses on issues related to natural resource use and management and the socio-economic dynamics that affect the use of the resources.
2. Information Management System: CETRAD aims to develop an information management system that ensures efficient and effective running of the following three main functions;
   • Development and efficient management of a comprehensive database through quality data collection, collation, storage and retrieval.
   • Information flow for sustained policy dialogue, acceptable and implementable extension packages and a sustained community dialogue.
   • Monitoring, impact assessment and evaluation of both socio-economic dynamics and ecological processes and development activities in the ASALs.
3. Planning, Support and Information Transfer: CETRAD, through oriented research and field-based training, and information dissemination, provides planning support to relevant institutions, at local, district, sub-national, national and even international levels.
4. Institutional Capacity Building: The ultimate goal of CETRAD is to enhance institutional capacities for improved planning and implementation of sustainable development interventions in the ASALs.