The Lowland Soil Rehabilitation Project (LSRP) is part of the Global Programme Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security under the core area 'A life without hunger – Transformation of Agri-food systems' of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Aligned with this mission, LSRP focuses on agroecological approaches to achieve sustainable, climate-smart soil conservation and rehabilitation in the Ethiopian lowlands. 

The LSRP operates in eight woredas in the Afar region, one woreda in Oromia and provides training and backstopping for all woredas in the Somali region.

The local government's efforts in the Amhara region to combat land degradation and food insecurity are commendable, especially with the positive outcomes seen in rehabilitated lands and increased agricultural productivity. However, the challenges you've highlighted regarding the government's top-down approach are significant. The high staff turnover, understaffing, and limited functionality of key committees hinder effective project management and slow down implementation. Moreover, issues with the delivery of inputs, as well as reduced community participation and ownership, raise important questions about transparency and accountability.