Dr. Omari has accumulated extensive international consultancy experience, collaborating with leading organizations such as SPREP, GIZ, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UK PACT, and the European Union (EU), often through partnerships with Eden Environmental Consulting Ltd (UK).
Since May 2025, he has been working with SPREP and Eden Environmental Consulting Ltd to prepare a GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) proposal for 14 Pacific Island countries, addressing pollution, waste management, and regional coordination. Previously, he contributed to GIZ (Nov 2023–Feb 2024) in developing an NDC financing strategy and stakeholder engagement framework.
Between 2021 and 2022, Dr. Omari provided technical consultancy services across multiple countries:
Vietnam (ADB): Supported the development of a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) value chain infrastructure project, including baseline studies and climate profiles.
Colombia (UK PACT): Designed financial de-risking instruments, agricultural insurance tools, and MRV systems for GHG emissions.
Solomon Islands (SPREP): Conducted gap and barrier analyses for scaling up green finance for CSA, developed a stakeholder mapping framework, and proposed water-efficient technologies.
Cambodia (ADB): Developed comprehensive training materials for the Climate Bonds Standard expansion and agri-food transition.
Afghanistan (EU/NEPA): Supported the creation of the Afghanistan Climate Fund Unit (ACFU), facilitated climate finance workshops, and helped establish a stakeholder engagement platform.
In addition, he has contributed to climate risk assessment, vulnerability mapping, and proposal development for GCF readiness and adaptation projects in Vietnam, Cambodia, Colombia, and the Solomon Islands.
A marine scientist by training with 20 years’ experience in projects-programme management in the fields of marine coastal habitat-species conservation and environment sustainability, not for profit fundraising targeting community resilience building initiatives and climate change adaptation-disaster risk reduction planning and practice. As a practitioner with multidisciplinary skillset and experiential knowledge deduced from a Pacific perspective through the provision of technical support and coordination; peer learning and capacity building; applied research in aspects of tropical island biodiversity and conservation, community-based fisheries, livelihoods and ecosystem-based management approaches; communications and knowledge management of project impact results; climate change advocacy, and policy advice. This brings with it an established Pacific network that furthered meaningful connections to other sector work in agriculture, community based inshore fisheries, coastal protection and water resources management. Experience working in culturally diverse settings at an international (WWF Pacific, National Geographic Pristine Seas), regional (SPREP, FAO), national (Rotary Pacific Water Foundation/ WWF) as well as with community-based organisation (LäjeRotuma Initiative) and engaging with other indigenous groups.
Fifteen years managing development finance in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific and six years in small island developing states. Expert building country systems and partnerships for development. Climate change, resilience building, infrastructure, gender equality, blue/green economy, public health, education and governance program experience.
Environment & development consultant with 10 years’ experience in 7 sectors in 16 countries, including 10 Caribbean & Pacific SIDS. Key highlights:
2014 Climate Change Project Officer, The Australian National University
2013-2014 Sustainable Financing Consultant, Cuso International
2013 Marine Protected Areas Expert, GOPA Consultants
2012-2013 Policy Research Manager, Caribbean Policy Research Institute
2012 Executive Director/Park Manager (World Heritage Site), Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust
2011 Climate Change Consultant, Environmental Solutions Ltd
2011-2012 Environmental Project Manager, Conrad Douglas & Associates Ltd
2007-2009 Environment & Sustainable Development Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Currently self-directing PhD research into climate change adaptation in SIDS. Seeking to use my qualifications & skills to help limit human-induced climate change, & ensure that adaptation actions in SIDS meet their development & resilience needs & goals.
Matt is a Sustainability Planner with 30 years of experience in local governance, environmental planning, development planning, climate change and sustainable development programmes and development management projects. His experience in all levels of government has centred on community development frameworks, the integrating of environment and development (decision-making), participatory land use planning and governance. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in: vulnerability assessments, risk management, adaptation approaches and methods, capacity needs assessments (CNAs) and NRM Policy development, as well as technical skills in impact assessment, coastal management, GIS/Remote sensing, soil and water management, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) of programmes and projects. Matt has lead teams in rural development, climate change adaptation, integrated coastal management, disaster risk reduction, poverty alleviation, sustainable tourism, urban development and land use planning
I'm a trained Environment & Climate Change Adaptation Practitioner/Specialist with over 10 years of practice and consultancy experiences. Provided technical advice to Governments of Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu on policy changes, marine resource use, climate change. Area of expertise includes; policy analysis, environment management systems, V&A, M&E, mainstreaming climate change adaptation interventions into planning processes, MPA, community engagement and workshop facilitation. Authored book on, Climate Change Adaptation and the Coastal Zone of S.Tarawa (2014), "Kiribati: the inter-linkages and the array of adaptation barriers and limits". Co-authored the "Kiribati Second National Communication Report to the UNFCCC" (2013) and other technical reports.
With over 16 years of experience in sustainable energy development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, my work focuses on increasing energy access, improving livelihood, and building resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries. I have provided services to donors and development agencies; including IFAD, Sida, UNESCO, UNEP and USAID; both being part of an organization as well as independently. I have been extensively involved in understanding the needs of developing countries of Asia in relation to improving access to energy supply and resilience to climate change; and developing innovative solutions to address those needs in ways that are appropriate to local contexts. Areas of my expertise are:
• Climate Change Adaptation: Adaptive capacity for municipalities; community based adaptation planning; and climate vulnerability assessment.
• Climate change mitigation: Strategies for low carbon development, sustainable waste management, sustainable city planning, and Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainable energy: Energy access through renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency in buildings and facilities, and policy analysis for cleaner technologies in SMEs.
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.
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.
Project Management Work for World Bank and UNDP in the areas of climate change adaptation, health and food security at the national and regional level. Meteorologists by profession with more than 20 years of GIS experience. Strong interest in International and regional conventions in relation to climate change and environment in general. Sectors of interest and involvement includes environment, health, agriculture and food security, disaster and risk reduction management, infrastructure, information and data management, parliamentary institutional strengthening etc. Had worked with other donors like AusAid, NZ Aid, ADB, Government of Italy, UNEP, FAO in particular.
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.
