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
US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Certification
State of Michigan Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Certification
Storm Water Management Program Certification
Advanced Topics in Geographic Information System (GIS) Certification
Countries of Work Experience: USA, Republic of Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands
Principal - Roles and Experience:
2013-2014: RMI, Environmental Specialist, ADB TA No. 8306 RMI - Ebeye Water and Sanitation Project
2011-2012: Palau, Environmental Specialist, ADB TA No. 42439-01 PAL - Palau Sanitation Sector Development Project
2010-2011: Palau, Environmental Specialist, ADB TA No. 7394-REG - Strengthening the Capacity of DMCs to Respond to Climate Change
2008-2009: Paulau, Environmental Specialist, ADB TA No.4977-PAL - Babeldaob Water Supply Project
2001-2007: Palau, Environmental Manager, Palau Compact Road, National Highway Project, US Army Corps of Engineers
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
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
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
I have considerable experience working as an economist with over 20 years experience working on a range of macro and micro economic issues for Commonwealth and State agencies in Australia and regionally in the Pacific for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. I have extensive experience working on a range of public policy issues. I have held management roles responsible for the leadership of, and significant contributions to, development of infrastructure plans, climate change finance, disaster risk reduction, natural resource policy and legislation, regulation of markets, performance measurement and evaluation reporting frameworks, cost benefit analysis proposals and policy governance frameworks.
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.
Head of Climate Change Division, Meteo France, FAAÁ-Tahiti
Head of Project - Potential Downsealing Method; Seasonal Forecase (ENSO-Predictor); Historical of Tropical Cyclone in FP
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
