Countries of Work Experience: Asia-Pacific: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu
Other regions: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Comoros, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mauritius, Montserrat, Norway, Seychelles, South Africa, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
Member - Pilot Program on Climate Resilience (PPCR) Independent Review Expert Roster appointed by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
Member, Roster of Experts (Climate Change) appointed by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Member - Roster of Experts (Climate Change) appointed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Member - Roster of Legal Experts on Biosafety (Latin America and Caribbean), appointed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Elected member of the International Council of Environmental Law(ICEL) (based at the Environmental Law Centre of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Bonn, Germany)
Member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Advocate of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
Chartered Mediator (Environment) accredited by the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada (AMIC) - Chair of the Accreditation and Training Committee (Regional), 1996-2002
Member, Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Environmental Auditing (APEA) - Member of the Standards, Training and Accreditation Committee, 1996-2002
Former Member of the Standards Committee appointed by the Forest Stewardship Council for Atlantic Canada
Key Achievements:
- Principal author of the Review of the Regulatory Framework for the Port of Darwin – a requirement of the Competition and Infrastructure Reform Agreement (CIRA) under the National Reform Agenda (NRA)- All findings and recommendations of the Review of the Regulatory Framework for the Port of Darwin were approved by Cabinet and have since been implemented. - Successfully advocated to other members on the Northern Territory Climate Change Steering Committee that local-level policies included in the Northern Territory Climate Change Policy Framework should be 'complementary' to the proposed national emissions trading scheme or carbon tax
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
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.
Expert at UNFCCC for Registration and Issuance
Expert for CDM Methodology Review
Member at Project Developer Forum
Expert at Partnership for Market Readiness; a World Bank Initiative for capacity building and piloting of new market based tools for GHG reduction
Countries of Work Experience: India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Lao, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria
Project Head UNDP 2014; To develop a detailed financial resource assessment for implementing the recommendations and strategies outlined in the Madhya Pradesh (MP) State Action Plan (SAPCC:
- Estimate the finances (direct as well as indirect) that need to be invested for fully operationalizing the strategies proposed for identified sectors
- Classify the sectoral recommendation and identify the fund requirement in for each activity and the sources for them.
- Identification of financing options and gap-filling strategies by assessing current budgetary allocations/expenditure of the departments working on issues falling within these sectors, to explore funds that could be made available for implementation
- Development of plan of action along with details on the methodology proposed to be used for making the estimates of financial requirements.
Project Leader for Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation 2014, Main objective is to map the international sources of climate finance which India could potentially access and provide a comparative analysis with other peer developing countries to gauge India’s preparedness to access International Climate finance and provide recommendations for setting appropriate institutional structure for effective climate fiance
Project Leader for GIZ 2013; Preparation of Activity Data and Selection of
Emission Factors for these sectors in Mexico to generate the emission data base and Emission Inventory
Emission of F-gases and preparation of a ‘NAMA Project’ for F-gases in Mexico
Project Leader at National Environment Commission Government of Bhutan 2013; Performed a situational analysis formulating and implementing NAMAs in Housing; Transport & Waste management sectors and LEDS in Transport and Industrial sectors and the related MRV functions. Profiling of the baseline scenario in the relevant sectors including social, gender, poverty and environmental issues. Integrated gender issues/ recommendations from the gender rapid assessment. Preparation of capacity development work plan and timeline on capacity needs assessment implementation and delivery in technical, social and operational aspects. Identification of SMART (ie Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and time-specific) capacity development indicators that the NEC could use.
Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Urban Development 2013; To estimate the improvement in GHG emissions in each of the SUTP cities due to the implementation of the demonstration projects and related co-benefits (air, noise and safety). To build capacity in the SUTP project cities to carry out systemic energy assessments of urban transport systems as well as generate locally relevant information regarding environmentally soundness and sustainability
of the cities’ transportation interventions.
Project Leader for UNDP & State of Jharkhand; Identified the sectors that are likely to be impacted by the temperature and precipitation changes in the long run. Consultation and coordination with the climate advisory, coordination team for preparing the state action plan. Developed a road map for state to adapt climate change. Developed the SAPCC document.
Project Leader Technology needs Assessment for Bhutan 2011: Identification Prioritization and Action Plan preparation for GHG reduction. Technologies for country of Bhutan Under the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA), Project under UNFCCC for non Annex countries and consistent with Guidelines of UNEP Risoe Center
Project Leader Policy Study on bio fuel assessments and development plan for Lao PDR, Ministry of Energy and Mines 2013.
Project Leader, EVI National Solar Power Development Program. Leader of EVI Development of methodology AMS IIIAF “Shift from high carbon Intensive fuel mix ratio to low Carbon intensive fuel mix ratio
Project Leader, Registration of CDM projects with UNFCCC and othe GHG protocols 2005-2013.
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
1. Formulation, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and mitigation programmes
- Coordination of inception phases for Global Environment Facility & Adaptation Fund- Formulate and design logical framework; - Design specific, measureable, attainable, relevant, time-bound (SMART) Indicators; - M & E frameworks - Management and institutional arrangements - Multi-year and annual work plans - Management of co-financing issues - Response to Global Environment Facility comments on submitted project documents
- Administrative Support - Definition of TOR’s, procurement, recruitment and contract management - Management reports consultation on ATLAS (UNDP project management system) - Budget allocation and budget revision - Monitoring and evaluation support - Strategic programming - Ensure consistence of projects outcomes and objectives with UN Development Assistance Framework regional priorities and outcomes - Technical review of relevant documents to match Global Environment Facility - Knowledge management and communication - Client focused relationship
2. Support the management of Global Environment Facility and Adaptation Fund projects Familiarization with project cycle, allocation mechanisms, processes and reporting procedures
3. Assist World Bank Team in elaboration of Post-Disaster Need Assistance document in response to Cyclone Evan (Samoa, 2012)
Member of Linnean Society of London (FLS)
Visiting Fellow of Nottingham Trent University, UK
Officer for Environmental Science for the government of Tuvalu Honorary Ambassador
Project Team Leader for PACE-SD USP, Suva Fiji
Leading the 8 million Euro European Union Global Climate Change Alliance Project. Working in 15 P-ACP countries. http://eugcca.usp.ac.fj/Home.aspx
Principal Supervisor for 7 MSc & 3 PhD students plus 2MSc completions in 2012. Developing and delivering courses for PGDip in Climate Change. Developing a new programme for PGDip Disaster Risk Management. Developing and administering "on-line" resources for full delivery of these courses to studnets in isolated small-island nation states (USP has 12 campuses in nations across the Pacific). Face-to-face teaching on various postgraduate and undergraduate courses as and when required.
Responsible for the proper and timely coordination, management and implementation of the project “Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change in the Pacific Islands through Training, Applied Research and Community Engagement”. The project ambit consists of 15 Pacific nations, 11 of which have a USP campus. CCA adaptation plans and activities in 43 communities.
Member of various committees: Research Committee; Academic Standards; Academic Audit (Research); Faculty Programming (designing new undergraduate "Environmental Science" programme); organizing committee for 4 international conferences (Local Governance and Climate Change; Pacific Climate Services Forum; 12th Pacific Science Inter-congress; 2nd International Renewable Energy and Climate Change Conference).
Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, UK
Lecturing and development of Undergraduate modules: “Sustainability” and “Rural Communities and Planning”. Lecturing on Post Grad MA International Relations: Theories, Practices and Policy. Supervision of undergraduate students; setting & marking coursework. School of Animal, Rural & Environmental Science Research Committee. Secured SPUR funding for research in Tuvalu
Scientific Advisor for Alofa Tuvalu (French-Tuvaluan NGO)
Author of the renewable energy technology component of the 10-year “Small Is Beautiful” project, Tuvalu.
Currently implementing renewable energy related sustainable development/environmental management & adaptation activities in Tuvalu (biogas, biodiesel, gasification, solar pv & thermal, wind). Selected as one of UNESCO’s decade of achievement projects.
Preparing funding proposals & securing funding.
Programme Manager for Cusichaca Trust, UK
Planning projects and devising/implementing/evaluating strategies for natural resource management, sustainable development & adaptation of rural Highland Peru. Major environmental management project - completed in September 2007 - research, agricultural extension and rehabilitation of land, vegetation, Inca terraces & irrigation systems in the Pampachiri District, Peru. Defining and implementing management structures and systems of an NGO with 40 full-time employees. Directing research and funding programmes, securing funding (1,500,000 Euro - EU, DFID & Community Fund).
Member of Siosiomaga Organisation of Samoa
Treasurer of Goshen Trust Board
Member of Woman Floriculture Club of Lautoka Fiji
Manager at Micro Finance Unit, Lautoka, Fiji
Lecturer in Agriculture/Horticulture and Business Manager APS, Samoa
Countries of Work Experience: Fiji, Hawaii
