Inception review for starting the Working Landscape Programme in Ethiopia.

The success of dryland restoration efforts in Tigray has been extensively documented. The achievements are notable and significant, not only because of the scale and breadth of the impacts, but also because of the methods and processes employed. Here, we describe the successes, and the broader benefits of restoration, but we also look at some of the challenges and weaknesses that have been identified, and suggest improvements. Land restoration in Tigray has been supported by strong governmental programs, across successive administrations, and has benefited from close collaboration between international donors and NGOs, working with local research institutions. But, most importantly, it has been driven by communities, who have understood the threats posed to their livelihoods and had strong incentives to make the necessary short-term sacrifices, in terms of foregone incomes, in order to establish and police area exclosures.