Lulseged Tamene Desta
Director of the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program
Lulseged Tamene Desta (PhD) is Director of Multifunctional Landscapes CGIAR Science Program, based at the ILRI Campus in Nairobi, Kenya. A landscape ecologist, by training, his work is driven by a long-standing interest in how land, water, people, and ecosystems interact across scales.
He began his career at Mekelle University in Ethiopia, teaching Geography, Land Use Planning, GIS, Remote Sensing, and Agro-Climatology. Early in his career, he worked with the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn on the GLOWA-Volta initiative, examining how competing water demands can be managed more sustainably in West Africa.
From 2009 to 2025, Lulseged worked with CIAT and later the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, where he led and co-developed large, multi-country initiatives. He is particularly motivated by action-oriented research that translates science into practice, including ecological intensification, landscape restoration, and land-use planning that balances production, conservation, and restoration goals. His work combines systems thinking with strong spatial analysis to support evidence-based decision-making.
Beyond research, Lulseged has played senior leadership roles across CGIAR. He values collaboration and mentored farmers, extension professionals, students, and early career scientists. He is widely recognized for bringing together interdisciplinary teams to contribute towards a common goal.
Outside work, he enjoys watching football and spending time observing and appreciating nature.
