Palanitina is a highly qualified, experience and respected senior Samoan public service leader with significant experiences in health governance and health system strengthening. public health services in general, public health education, health promotion, disease prevention and high level public health leadership, management and administration. She had held senior executive positions in the Samoan Government, including the Director General of Health (DGoH) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Health for 9 years (Feb 2005 – Feb 2014) and Assistant CEO of the Division for Women in the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) from Sept 1998 – Jan 2005. Palanitina has championed health system strengthening (HSS) based on the WHO Framework on HSS 2005. She led and completed in 18 months (Feb 2005 – July 2006) the realization of the public health reform which began in 1998. She was instrumental in the development and advocacy for passage through Parliament of 18 legislations plus several health policies within her terms of leadership; to practically implement the MOH’s new monitoring and regulatory functions. She has been advocating for women’s empowerment at policy and program levels. She led the practical translation of regional and international conventions through empowerment programs, including the establishment of women’s leadership networks. She led the establishment of the Partnership for the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which the Samoan Government ratified in 1992. A sought after adviser, Palanitina has evaluated a number of Pacific regional and country programs, including for AusAid before becoming DFAT, WHO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. She has facilitated country and regional collaborations and, through her consultancy and government CEO appointments, Palanitina has had significant involvement in the delivery and review of regional and some international programs through WHO.
A multiple disciplined evaluation and sustainability consultant with over three years experience working in the Pacific region and 18 years experience working in Australia. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in climate change adaption, proposal writing, sustainability education, behaviour change (community engagement), monitoring and evaluation, carbon accounting, permaculture, international development (water security, food security, coastal adaptation), strategic planning and information and communications technology. Hard working and professional attitude complimented with friendly personality. Understands the challenges faced by Pacific Small Island States and has the ability to be flexible and creative in responding to these challenges. Co-founder of Pacific Research and Evaluation Associates (PREA) http://www.prea.com.au . All consultancy work outlined below is with PREA. Let us work together to achieve a good outcome.
Dr. Srikanth Subbarao has more than 15 years of experience on policy, technology and capacity building aspects of low carbon energy and climate change mitigation. As a consultant and expert, he has carried out and contributed towards various international assignments for institutional and private sector clients (ADB, World Bank, UNDP/GEF, UNIDO, UNEP, GIZ, EU and DfID) in renewable energy, climate change mitigation and environmental management sectors. His professional experience covers more than 15 developing countries in Asia & Pacific. He has been extensively involved in the Pacific Island Countries on activities related to renewable energy and climate change mitigation which include technical advisory services, policy development, project identification studies, programme management, training and capacity building.
Senior management experience working in international and regional institutions in the Pacific: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (Coordinator/Legal Adviser); United National Development Programme-GEF Unit Asia-Pacific (Regional Technical Adviser- Pacific and Timor Leste); Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency(Director Operations). Secretariat Pacific Community (Climate Change Adviser), Pilot Program Climate Resilience- Regional Track Pacific (Team Leader/Program Manager); Provision of high level policy advice to leaders and senior government officials of Pacific island countries on environmental and natural resource issues of importance to Pacific at international, regional and national settings. In particular the effective integration of environmental and sustainable development considerations into national development planning and decision processes; Over 15 years management experience with expertise in strategic planning and implementation of programmes; preparation of annual work plans and budgets, staff management, organizational review and change; Formulation, development, implementation support and monitoring of projects for the Global Environment Fund, United Nations Environment Programme, European Union, ADB, World Bank, Australia, Canada and New Zealand; Experienced in Partnership building and resource mobilization; Excellent communication skills and success at managing personnel from different cultures and backgrounds in challenging and competitive environments; Responsible for driving the development and finalisation of The Pacific Islands Regional Framework on Climate Change 2006-2015 (endorsed by Pacific Island leaders in 2006) and the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy 2010-2015 (endorsed Pacific Island Fisheries Ministers May 2010). The importance of effective integration of environmental and sustainable development considerations national development planning is recognised in both strategic frameworks as well as the Pacific Plan endorsed by Forum Island leaders; Technical Consultant for Asia Development Bank and co-drafter of the Planning Urban Management Act, Samoa 2004; Experienced in advocacy, legal drafting, litigation, drafting ministerial and official interventions, preparations of briefs.
Work with the Yap State Marine Resource Management Division to design, implement, and monitor projects that are related to both the exploitation and conservation of marine resources. Most projects aim to build the capacity of government agency personnel, community-based organizations, and coastal communities to manage their coastal resources. Projects related to climate change are mostly aimed at improving food security; such as aquaculture and alternatives to reef fishing in conjunction with the establishment of more protected areas.
Over 20 years’ experience working on climate change and disaster risk reduction issues with communities, governments and international entities. Much of my work focused on building the capacities and capabilities to address adverse impacts of climate change and disaster risk reduction issues at the national, regional and international levels and in assisting countries mobilise financial, technical and human resources to implement and manage climate change activities, projects and programmes.
I have particular experience in conducting stakeholder consultations with villages/ communities, national governments and with international community organisations. I have especial skill/know-how in preparing technical and policy documents and reports relating to climate change issues and concerns. I have assisted Pacific islands countries in developing project proposals for funding and implementation of projects including Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme, national communications, national adaptation programmes of action, vulnerability and adaptation assessment, national and regional adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects, adaptation policies and/or strategies (see CV attached).
I also have experience in developing a policy and/or a policy framework such as NAPA, International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience, and Strategic Programme on Climate Resilience, Pacific Adaptation Strategies Assistance Programme, national and regional Global Climate Change Alliance programmes on adaptation and based on stakeholder engagement/consultations.
I have a good knowledge and high level of familiarity and understandings of the Pacific small island developing states government system having lived in and worked in and for the region for more than three decades. Additionally I have undertaken mentoring work with various experts with each of the countries through capacity building and training on various aspects of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. I have a have a good command of English (oral and written) and a good level of understanding of some of the local languages.
I have the necessary track record of achievements, experience and skills to provide scientific and technical assistance and policy guidance to the Pacific SIDS. and others on climate change activities, projects and programmes.
The consultant's key fields of expertise include Environmental Management (Env Mgt Sys, Env Audit, EIA, SEA), Sustainable Development, Climate Change (Adaptation, Mitigation, Science, Policy), Community Waste Management, Community Based Adaptation, Ecosystem-based Adaptation. Proficient project management and project performance management skills that include practitioner skills in project management in controlled environments; skills in concept, grant and full project and funding proposal writing, climate financing proposal writing, design, work planning and budgeting. Skilled in project appraisal of project aspects such as costs, timescales, quality, scope, risk and benefits; deliver of quality project products, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. Offers training and workshops on V&A Assessments that include technical and community-based tools and frameworks, socio-economic assessments, lessons learned, results-based management, survey design and implementation, M&E design and implementation, gender & climate change. Range of working experiences at different levels of development intervention - international and regional (negotiations, policy, advocacy, lobbying, media campaigns and presentation, knowledge management); regional and national (project management, policy, science, gender, adaptation, mitigation, media campaigns, public awareness) and community (CBA, EbA, V&A, negotiations, training, gender mainstreaming level, implementation, negotiation skills on climate change, waste management, attitude and behavioral change campaigning). Have on-the-ground and field experiences in 14 Pacific Island communities, particularly in Palau, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Niue, Cook Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Sector expertise areas of climate change adaptation activities and results in integrated coastal zone management, water resources management (specializing in low-lying atolls), food security, food production, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, tourism and health.
I am a trained natural products and synthetic organic chemist. I have however expanded my skills to cover executive management, technical areas such as general and hazardous waste management, pollution matters, contaminated site clean-up, management and implementation of MEAs, especially the chemical cluster of MEAs (Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Waigani conventions), policy development for environmental development issues, project management and implementation.
I am a very friendly person by nature and am very easy to get along with.
Over 30 years of experience (largely at Director, Team Leader, Lead Consultant or Chief Technical Adviser level) in the Pacific islands, the Mekong subregion of SE Asia and elswhere working in energy policy and planning (including renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security) and broader environmental policy/planning. Clients have included the Asian Development Bank, Australian Aid, East-West Center, European Commission (EC), Climate Parliament, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Environment Facility, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Greenpeace Pacific, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Oceania), River Commission (MRC), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), New Zealand Aid, Pacific Power Association, Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC, Bangkok), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC and earlier SOPAC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation (SDC), various UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNOPS, UNESCAP), and the World Bank. Recent work related to climate resilience has been in the energy sector and includes the following:Pacific Small Islands States Scoping Study and Project formulation (senior consultant, Global Green Growth Institute, 2013-2014) Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Pacific, phase 2 (International energy efficiency expert), International Institute of Energy Conservation and Asian Development Bank; January 2012 - early 2015)o Evaluation of EU/SPC North Pacific Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Project (North REP; team leader, Cardno, 2012)o Report on Pacific Perspectives on the Challenges to Energy Security and the Sustainable Use of Energy (consultant, UN ESCAP, 2012)o Improving climate change resilience for energy sector investments (lead researcher for peer-reviewed report, ADB, 2011-2012)
Principal partner of auditing and accounting firm: Suá ma Pauga & Associates. Firm won the Gold Star Award on Quality Service. A Chartered Accountant for both New Zealand and Samoan Institute of Chartered Accountants. Working experience in finance, accounting and auditing, research, loan and credit facilities, financial specialist on educational system, climate change, budgeting, financial and business analysis, report writing and survey consultants - in Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand. Finance/Economics Consultant for ADB/Government of Samoa in Education Sector Project II. Lecturer in University on Government Accounting, Finance and Accountancy, and Head of Departments and providers of various workshops on finance, budgeting, and financial reporting.
A sustainability generalist, with wide ranging skills, knowledge and experience to bring in solving complex problems. Over 12 years experience in the environmental management sector, including government, private industry and the education sector. Experience working across the Pacific Islands delivering training in project design and proposal preparation. Project design, management, implementation and evaluation experience. Experienced trainer and facilitator.
Knowledge and understanding of social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions of natural resource management (marine & terrestrial) and sustainability, with a focus on community change and adaptation. Extensive practical experience in government and industry, including liaising with community groups and stakeholders, conducting surveys, and report writing. Experienced integrative team player with strong relationship building skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, prioritization and multi-tasking abilities, and an ability to operate autonomously.
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.