Profile
Dessalegn Rahmato is an analyst and researcher based in Ethiopia. Rahmato focuses on agrarian studies, with an emphasis on land policy and reforms in Ethiopia and Africa. His work examines the impacts of government policies and programs on smallholder farmers and pastoralists. Some of Rahmato's most notable publications include "Land to Investors: Large-Scale Land Transfers in Ethiopia" (2011), which analyzed the effects of large land leases to foreign and domestic investors, and "Searching for Tenure Security? The Land System and New Policy Initiatives in Ethiopia" (2002), which studied Ethiopia's land tenure policies.Rahmato's research has drawn attention to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers as a result of land policies favoring large-scale commercial farms and plantations. His work has advocated for reforms to strengthen land rights for local communities and ensure inclusive agricultural development. Over his career, Rahmato has collaborated with various organizations like the Forum for Social Studies and the Land Rights Initiative at the University of Pretoria. He is currently a senior researcher and advisor at the Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute and an independent consultant on agrarian, environmental and development studies.
