WALIR integrates fundamental water management concepts like:

- Institutional viability: an appropriate organizational and normative framework that sustains water management, embedded in a cultural context

- Equity: social justice and acceptability of the rules and practices that inform water management and distribution

- Political democracy: representation of the diverse multiple stakeholder groups in decision-making processes regarding water management

- Human capacity and capability: adequate water management knowledge and contextual skills

- Economic viability: economically sustainable water management to maintain livelihoods and production strategies

- Productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of water use: productive and appropriate land and water management and technical sustainability

- Security of water access: the ability to enforce water use rights now and in the future

- Ecological equilibrium: protection of good quality water resources and prevention of ecological degradation

In its initial phase from 2001 to 2003, WALIR has set up an inter-institutional network of institutions, scholars, and practitioners of various disciplines and backgrounds, and which are involved in and committed to the above objectives. Preparatory studies conducted so far have focused on current legislation and legal attention to, or neglect and discrimination of, indigenous and customary water rights in the Andean countries. The project aims to have an effect beyond this Andean focus, by providing an example and tool for similar action research to be pursued in other regions.

Second phase studies of WALIR from 2003 on, focus on indigenous water rights in international law and treaties, indigenous identity and water rights, current indigenous water management systems, field case studies, and thematic, complementary, research projects (including, for example, gender, food security, land rights, and water policy dialogue methods).

Short comparative studies in other countries will further complement and strengthen the project and its thematic networks, and lay the foundation for a broader international framework. WALIR will then implement a number of exchange, dissemination, capacity-building, and advocacy related activities, in close collaboration with local, national, and international platforms and networks.