Degefa Tolossa is a Professor of Geography and Development Studies at Addis Ababa University. He got his Ph.D. in Geography from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. He initiated, founded and coordinated Center for Food Security Study in the College of Development Studies, AAU. He received a number of awards including the Thirteenth OSSREA Social Science Research Grant for young scholars (1999). Presently he is a Director General for Federalism and Special Support, Ministry of Peace (MoP)