Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD) is a Bilateral Institution between the Government of Kenya (through The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and the Government of Switzerland, through the Centre for Development and Environment of the University of Berne. CETRAD is based in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, and was established in July 2002 as a follow up of the then Laikipia Research Programme (1976 - 1997). The CETRAD supports sustainable development of the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS) of Kenya through research, training and outreach in the keys areas of water and natural resources management and governance; regional development and agrarian transformation; livelihood dynamics; and integrated knowledge management and capacity development. The Centre furthermore provides a robust platform for context sensitive and fair research endeavours; and maintains a broad institutional collaborative and partnership network in East Africa and the Global South.
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.