I am a Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist, with diverse experience gained over more than 25 years, the last five in the Pacific region. My focus subject areas include climate change, agriculture, rural development, biodiversity and linking research and policy. My core skills are writing, editing, communications project management and skill sharing/mentoring. Recent projects (and clients) include: Knowledge Management Consultant for the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Programme (SPREP); content development and editing of the Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkit (GIZ); developing a Pacific Climate Change Glossary for the Pacific Climate Change Portal (SPREP); developing and facilitating a workshop on communication skills held at the University of the South Pacific; and co-authoring and editing a book on the Forests of the Pacific Islands (SPC).
Key skills: providing strategic, targeted knowledge network, evaluation and technical services to international environmental and development programs and institutional capacities. Thematic interests and work experience: project design, implementation and results based monitoring: child rights, disability mainstreaming in UN funds and programs, inclusive education sector planning, biodiversity strategic planning, disaster risk reduction , climate change and resilience, natural resources and protected area management, ecosystem services and environmental science. Policy and bottleneck analysis and implementation problem resolution including work in environment sectors, poverty alleviation and education, improved service delivery and transparent government initiatives. Advocacy interests focusing on one UN programming, education for sustainable development, education systems and planning, climate change adaptation, emergencies, disaster risk reduction and resilience. Communication: training and education experience, including organizing and leading workshops. Research: data analysis, writing/editing materials for a wide variety of audiences and preparing content for websites.
Environmental strategy and policy, specializing in climate change and community development; Project management, M&E, O&M programming, training manual and
module development; Sustainable development tools & frameworks: EMS, SEIA, EIA, ISO; “Triple bottom line” assessments and reporting (social, environmental
and economic factors); Occupational Health, Safety, Security and Quality Assurance
Social scientist (economics, gender expertise) with over 12 years experience providing advice, analysis and technical assistance to governments including eight years in the Pacific as an economist and policy adviser with the Land Resources Division of SPC and a climate change adviser with GIZ.; Experience with supporting policy development processes, information and knowledge management strengthening, providing economic and gender analysis to inform and evaluate interventions, trainer and facilitator of various training courses and workshops, development partner coordination structures, monitoring and evaluation processes.; Author of the "Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkit" (2013) and associated training course, contributing author to the " Cost-benefit analysis for natural resource management in the Pacific: A guide" and trainer for its application, management and strengthening of the Pacific Agriculture and Forestry Policy Network (PAFPNet), strategic oversight of the Pacific Youth and Agriculture Strategy development.
The framework for Ghana will focus on the effective utilisation of Ghana’s existing data sets and draw on institutional capacities within the county to develop the RL and MRV systems. This delivery approach goes beyond technical RL and MRV considerations and is being driven by a participatory process, exploring and strengthening national capacities within Ghana by following the key REDD+ development principles.; Design peer review of a proposed investment to conduct pilot trials in savanna fire management in developing countries, based on the success of savanna fire management in northern Australia. The peer review process is an integral part of the Government’s international climate projects investment design process which aims to ensure consistency with Australia’s climate change objectives, compliance with Financial Management and Accountability Act requirements, AusAID’s Investment Design Quality Standards and Australia’s Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework.; Current engagement includes the leading technical management role to implement the Detailed Design Document for establishing the Kenyan National Carbon Accounting System for the land sector. This programme will put the national system in place over the next 3 years with an emphasis on sustainability and Government of Kenya ownership and functionality.; Facilitation and documentation of the design, performance and specifications for the National Carbon Accounting System for Kenya; Leadership, technical and project management to a team of 12 assessing feasibility and designing a project to support the sustainable management and sustainable financing of the Leuser Ecosystem, Aceh, in line with the focus and priorities of the German Environment Ministry (BMU) International Climate Initiative with the Indonesian Government through KfW; Provision of technical guidance, planning and management support for fire management in peatlands of Central Kalimantan. A wide ranging and evolving assignment that includes research and development on fire management in peat lands, establishing a Fire Management Expert Panel, fire investigation & planning to reduce the impact of fires on Green House Gas emissions
Member - Australian Institute of Emergency Services
Member – National Competency Standards for Emergency Management
Member – Development Team (Understanding Emergency Risk Management Training Course
Qualified Trainer and Assessor in Disaster Management
(Certificate IV Workplace Training (Category Two))
Manage the response to the 2010-2011 flooding and cyclones
Manage the response during the flooding of the State Capital, Brisbane
Manage response to Cyclone Yasi and major flooding in South West Queensland in 2012
Establish a consulting business to provide response services to national, state and local governments, business and industry, agencies and community groups involved in disaster/emergency management
Establish comprehensive disaster risk management programming including risk management and mitigation strategies
Wrote guidelines for risk management in the Pacific Island Countries
Comprehensive Hazard and Risk Management (CHARM) guidelines were adopted in the region by the various Island nations
Drafted the Queensland Guidelines for Cyclone Shelter Operations which included his findings from the USA and the experience he gained while managing the flooding and cyclones across Queensland in 2010 to 2012
Building resilience to disaster in the community, economy, infrastructure and the environment
Implement risk studies leading to Risk Management Planning and Mitigation Planning across Queensland and the Pacific Island Countries
Provide operational advice ranging from standard operating procedures to whole of government multi-agency response
Over 10+ years consultancy work on climate resilience policy & institutional review; CC project & program design including development of PPDs & financial proposals; MfDR-based corporate planning; M&E/R; Organisation Review; Community development/assessments etc for Samoa and the Pacific. Designed & developed the Pacific Island owned Rapid Response Fund & Regional Technical Support Mechanism (ADB funded; SPREP implemented; overall guidance by WARD/CROP agencies). National consultant for several projects including PPCR Samoa country track; DRM/DRR Act/policy review; CRPD impacts ratification for GoSamoa etc. SQA/NUS Professional Unit Certified Adult/Community Trainer- conducted in-country training & workshops/forum including the 2015 post-SIDS Joint CSO Forum (CSSP SUNGO/GEF-SGP/PIANGO) for Samoa. 20+ years experience in Pacific island project design, management & implementation in the areas of environmental information, knowledge management and clearinghouse mechanisms.
Ainsof So’o is the Systems Developer/Analyst for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) based in Apia, Samoa. He currently maintains and develops corporate applications and web applications for SPREP and its member countries and territories. Mr. So’o has also developed database systems and websites for Individuals, Businesses and Government Ministries whilst working in the private sector.
Mr. So’o is a recipient of the prestigious Australian Leadership Award where he attained a Master of Information Technology in Software Architecture from the Queensland University of Technology as well as leadership training. He also holds a Bachelor of Computing Systems from New Zealand and a PRINCE2 Project Management certification.
Knowledge and Management Specialist
Climate Financing Specialist
Disaster Relief/Management Specialist
Environmental and social safeguards specialist
Economist [Cost-Benefit Analysis of CC]
Director at the Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit
Community Trainer Specialist
Capacity Building Specialist
Credit Control Supervisor at National Bank of Solomon Islands
Manager Finance at DIDAO Development, Solomon Islands
Countries of Work Experience: Solomon Islands
Director at Earthwise Consulting Limited, Hastings New Zealand
Senior Research Fellow at International Global Change Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton New Zealand
Knowledge Management Specialist
Proposal/Report Writing
Community Trainer Specialist
Capacity building specialist
Research Scientist at Environmental Change Unit, Oxford University, Atmospheric Impacts Research Group University of Birmingham, UK
Climate Resilience expert with 23 years experience with climate change impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and resilience
Countries of Work Experience: Bangladesh, Egypt, Fiji, Italy, Kiribati, Mauritius, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
Climate Financing Specialist
Climate Change Adaptation and Finance Adviser for the Office of Environmental Planning
Wrote a report on Climate Change Finance options for RMI
Advising the Director of the OEPPC, preparing briefing documents, presentations, cabinet papers, managing visits from CROP agencies, writing concept proposals for climate change adaptation projects
Organising committee member for the Cartagena Dialogue Organised bilateral meetings, prepared briefing papers and speeches for the Foreign Minister
Followed up from the Climate Change Finance Assessment carried out on RMI by facilitating workshops that lead to a climate change finance roadmap
Created and designed plan for the creation of a climate change coordination guideline for RMI
Developed a report for UNDP and the Palestinian Government on climate finance opportunities vis-à-vis ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change;
Presented findings to the National Climate Change Committee, the Environment Quality Authority (EQA) and UNDP/PAPP;
Developed a concept note for a donor on meteorological stations in the West Bank and Gaza;
Joined the Palestinian Delegation to COP19 in Warsaw: tracked climate finance negotiations, organised bilateral meetings, prepared briefing papers and speeches for the Chairman of the EQA (Ministerial equivalent).
Research Assistance assisting Professor Robyn Eckersley at the Faculty of Political and Social Science with research on a three year project around international climate leadership in a number of key countries, including Norway.
Translating material and analyzing policy history to establish different discourses of the agents acting within the Norwegian climate and foreign policy arena.
Recognised as a research assistant in the article: Eckersley, R. (2013), Poles Apart?: The Social Construction of Responsibility for Climate Change in Australia and Norway. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 59: 382–396. doi: 10.1111/ajph.12022.
Analysed human societal perspectives on energy choice and climate solutions
Researched and produced materials covering various energy fields: unconventional gas, biogas, carbon capture and storage, transportation/mobility, geopolitics related to energy and more.
Organised events and represented the company at conferences.
Completed administration tasks as necessary and held responsibility for and training of one staff member.
Project Manager - PIGGAREP; Energy Coordinator - Ministry of Finance, Samoa; Senior Research Officer - Energy, Economic Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Finance; Manage delivery of national and regional activities of the project in 14 Pacific Island Countries; Project coordination and reporting, strategic planning, policy and implementation strategy formulation, project management and procurement, monitoring and evaluation and capacity building; Foster and establish strong links with all project partners and other related programmes and projects in the Pacific; Widespread dissemination of PIGGAREP best practices and experiences and raising the PIGGAREP profile and SPREP; Energy Coordinator - Establishment of the Energy Demand and Supply (EDS) database and publication of the Energy Review Reports (ERR); Coordinate and manage the upgrading of the Petroleum Tank Farm Facilities and Rationalization of Petroleum Supplies
- Establish a structural process and criteria for issuance and renewal of petroleum licensing; Coordinate and manage all national energy projects including national activities for regional energy projects - Implement project on upgrading the petroleum facilities; Research Officer - Establish and maintain a computer-based economic statistical base; Collect, process and disseminate IMF-based government financial statistics; Coordinate with line departments the collection and systemizing of economic indicator; Coordinate in collaboration with the Statistics Department; sample surveys for economic development purpose
- Assist with the compilation of national, accounts and balanced of payments data; Prepare analytical and appraisal reports; Assist in the preparation of national development plans, sector plans and project evaluation reports