SaciWATERs is active in three domains : education, research and advocacy, by implementing projects.

In its education focused activities SaciWATERs seeks to transform professional water education programmes and incorporate developmental concerns like ecology, poverty and democracy. The goal being human capacity building, we focus on longer duration education input deriving from the fact that shaping attitudes and perceptions, and teaching the skills of interdisciplinary and more comprehensive analysis and intervention requires time. At present very few such programmes for water resources education reform exist in South Asia. Hence, our projects are targeted at getting in touch with the training institutions and collaborating with them in order to materialize the differentiated approach. Water being central to economic growth and poverty reduction in South Asia our aim is to generate a critical mass of expertise and to increase the number of water professionals to form a substantial network in government and civil society organization.

Research is central to SaciWATERs mission to raise the capabilities of individuals and organizations for integrated water resources management and our aim is to be a centre of research excellence in the field of IWRM in South Asia. Research is not viewed as a ‘stand alone’ activity, but as a means for reducing the knowledge gaps that act as a key to the dissemination of research findings, and to working with local partners in ways that strengthen their knowledge-creation capacities. In its research focused activities SaciWATERs aims to broaden the South Asian water resources knowledge base by; critically analyzing water issues at South Asia level; undertaking comparative research on water resources issues in different parts of the sub-continent; studying localized water resources management process of general, conceptual, or policy relevance and conducting ‘problem solution oriented’ research preferably in close interaction with societal interest groups.

SaciWATERs has identified advocacy and social mobilization as important elements for improved water and environmental management. In advocacy, SaciWATERs aims to make knowledge on actual water management processes ‘work’ in the public and policy domain, around South Asia level issues and we intend to provide a platform for exchange, discussion and collaboration at the South Asia level through networking, publications and workshops / conferences.

Our publications aim to broaden the South Asian water resources knowledge base by critically analyzing the water issues that play out at South Asian level; undertake comparative research on water resources issues in different parts of the sub-continent and study the localized water resources management process. Our e-journal SAWAS aims to provide space for creative and free thinking on water, fostering debate, eliciting innovative alternatives, promoting original analyses and constructive critiques.