About
Consultant and researcher
Sims Climate Consulting
benjaminp.sims@gmail.com
Summary
Ben Sims has 13 years of experience in more than ten countries across Asia and the Pacific. Ben is an expert in climate finance, public financial management, investment planning, climate risk assessments, adaptation planning (asset, community, sector and national levels), policy and institutional design and reforms, and the development of sectoral and national strategies and plans.
Ben has provided consultancy services for government agencies and international organisations, including SPREP, ADB, World Bank, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UN Environment, UNDP, UNDRR, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of New Zealand. Recent consultancies are summarised in this profile - my full consultancy record is provided in my CV.
Ben’s recent work in the Pacific includes leading the development of the PNG National Climate Finance Strategy and PNG GCF Country Programme; completion of climate finance training for government agencies in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; design of the GCF no-objection procedure for RMI; and analysis on strengthening flood risk management institutions in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. He has also led an assessment on mainstreaming climate change into Cambodia’s PFM system and development of an investment plan to strengthen the country’s disaster risk management. Ben was previously a staff member at GGGI, where he worked on establishing the Institute’s country programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
He holds a Master of Environmental Management and Development and Master of Diplomacy from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland, and is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance from the Frankfurt School. Ben is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Auckland part time, where he is researching the impacts of flooding on population health.
Ben has provided consultancy services for government agencies and international organisations, including SPREP, ADB, World Bank, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UN Environment, UNDP, UNDRR, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of New Zealand. Recent consultancies are summarised in this profile - my full consultancy record is provided in my CV.
Ben’s recent work in the Pacific includes leading the development of the PNG National Climate Finance Strategy and PNG GCF Country Programme; completion of climate finance training for government agencies in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; design of the GCF no-objection procedure for RMI; and analysis on strengthening flood risk management institutions in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. He has also led an assessment on mainstreaming climate change into Cambodia’s PFM system and development of an investment plan to strengthen the country’s disaster risk management. Ben was previously a staff member at GGGI, where he worked on establishing the Institute’s country programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
He holds a Master of Environmental Management and Development and Master of Diplomacy from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland, and is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance from the Frankfurt School. Ben is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Auckland part time, where he is researching the impacts of flooding on population health.
Publications
Title: Pacific NAP Guidelines Publisher: SPREP Date published: Sun, 03/07/2022 - 12:00 Link: https://www.sprep.org/publications/pacific-national-adaptation-plan-nap-guidelines-guidelines-for-the-adaptation-planning-process-and-contents-of-naps-in-the-pacific
Title: Analysis of DRR inclusion in national climate change commitments Publisher: UNDRR Date published: Mon, 09/08/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.undrr.org/publication/analysis-drr-inclusion-national-climate-change-commitments
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in Fiji Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/983
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in the Solomon Islands Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/984
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in Vanuatu Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/985
Title: Analysis of DRR inclusion in national climate change commitments Publisher: UNDRR Date published: Mon, 09/08/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.undrr.org/publication/analysis-drr-inclusion-national-climate-change-commitments
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in Fiji Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/983
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in the Solomon Islands Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/984
Title: An Assessment of Vulnerable Sectors and EO Data Potential in Vanuatu Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat Date published: Tue, 21/12/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/985
Qualifications
Degree: Master of Diplomacy Period: 2012 Status: Completed Education institution: Australian National University (ANU) Country: Australia
Degree: Master of Environmental Management and Development Period: 2009-2011 Status: Completed Education institution: Australian National University (ANU) Country: Australia
Degree: Bachelor of Biological Science Period: 2004-2006 Status: Completed Education institution: University of Auckland Country: New Zealand
Training: Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance Period: 2021 Status: Completed Education institution: Frankfurt School Country: Germany
Degree: Master of Environmental Management and Development Period: 2009-2011 Status: Completed Education institution: Australian National University (ANU) Country: Australia
Degree: Bachelor of Biological Science Period: 2004-2006 Status: Completed Education institution: University of Auckland Country: New Zealand
Training: Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance Period: 2021 Status: Completed Education institution: Frankfurt School Country: Germany
Work Experience
Project name: Papua New Guinea National Climate Finance Strategy Client: Global Green Growth Institute Project period: Mon, 29/04/2024 - 12:00 - Fri, 31/05/2024 - 12:00 Position: Climate Finance Strategy Specialist Location: Papua New Guinea Deliverables (i) Desk review of climate strategies and processes, and identification of approaches to advance existing climate priorities; (ii) Engaging with government stakeholders/development partners, including consultation workshops; (iii) Development of strategy, including action plan with results framework.
Project name: Addressing Climate Change Loss and Damage: Partner Design Support Client: MFAT / Tonkin + Taylor Project period: Mon, 04/03/2024 - 12:00 - Fri, 05/04/2024 - 12:00 Position: Climate Financing Specialist Location: Pacific Regional Deliverables (i) Review/input into design of other projects/activities; (ii) Engaging with government stakeholders/development partners; (iii) Supporting design of Vanuatu project design for MFAT funding.
Project name: New Zealand Climate Change and Health Sector Scenarios Client: Public and private health entities Project period: Mon, 02/10/2023 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/03/2024 - 12:00 Position: Health and Climate Change Expert Location: New Zealand Deliverables (i) Design of climate change scenario analysis methodology; (ii) Population health research, including health risks from climate hazards, and identification and assessment of climate change drivers (including global health security) (iii) Stakeholder consultation and engagement to elicit information from sectoral experts; (iv) Development of three climate change scenarios (2025-2100), which outline three distinctly plausible futures for NZ; (v) Development of guidance to support health sector agencies use scenario narratives for their strategic planning and climate reporting requirements.
Project name: Supporting Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management in Emergency Preparedness and Response Diagnostics / Investment Planning Client: World Bank Project period: Fri, 16/12/2022 - 12:00 - Thu, 30/03/2023 - 12:00 Position: Investment Planning Specialist Location: Cambodia Deliverables (i) Developed legal and institutional assessment for diagnostic report, focusing on policies, practices, as well as remaining gaps; (ii) Identified opportunities that may require limited targeted funding to reach a “tipping point” for certain emergency preparedness and response system capabilities; (iii) Identifying actionable recommendations to address identified gaps; (iv) Undertaking multi-criteria analysis to prioritise project ideas; (v) Developing investment plan with prioritised and costed project ideas for the World Bank and other development partners to finance, which included the formulation of results frameworks for interventions.
Project name: Green and Innovative Finance Initiative for Scaling Up Southeast Asian Infrastructure Client: Asian Development Bank Project period: Wed, 02/11/2022 - 12:00 - Thu, 30/11/2023 - 12:00 Position: Climate Change Public Policy Specialist Location: Cambodia Deliverables (i) Analysed existing climate change and environment protection policies and international commitments; (ii) Collated best international practices in climate change public policies, particularly those applied to the different stages of public investment (including national, sub-national and public-private investments); (iii) Assessed the current practices in Cambodia in the assessment and implementation of climate change mitigation or adaptation interventions in PIM project cycle and identified gaps; (iv) Prepared an issues paper on the gaps and present suggestions for integrating best practices in climate change assessment and mitigation/adaptive interventions in the PIM project cycle; (v) Supported the development of umbrella PIM guidelines to reflect best practices in climate change assessment and mitigation/adaptive interventions; (vi) Prepared guidance notes on notes on the methodology for undertaking the assessment of climate change impacts and the associated mitigation/adaption interventions (e.g., climate risk and vulnerability assessment for infrastructure assets); (vii) Coordinated and participated in country consultations related to the umbrella PIM guidelines.
Project name: Review of the Sarakata flood mitigation guidelines and development of a flood management plan and early warning system Client: SPREP Project period: Mon, 03/10/2022 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/09/2023 - 12:00 Position: Project Manager and Institutional Specialist Location: Vanuatu Deliverables (i) Assessing institutional framework, and recommendations on reforms; (ii) Development of MoU; (iii) Incorporation of international best practices on flood management planning; (iv) Project management.
Project name: Pacific National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Guidelines Client: SPREP Project period: Mon, 13/12/2021 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/04/2022 - 12:00 Position: Climate Adaptation and Financing Expert Location: Pacific Regional Deliverables (i) Research on international best practices, including climate risk assessments, sectoral adaptation processes, and monitoring, evaluation and learning; (ii) Assessment and evaluation of donor assistance on climate adaptation to Pacific Island Countries; (iii) Stakeholder engagement and workshop delivery; (iv) Guideline development and report writing.
Employment date: Mon, 05/08/2019 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/03/2024 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Tonkin + Taylor Position: Senior Climate Change and Resilience Consultant and Project Manager Location: New Zealand
Project name: Tonga Parliament Buildings – Design Services Project & Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment Client: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Project period: Mon, 02/11/2020 - 12:00 - Fri, 27/11/2020 - 12:00 Position: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Specialist Location: Tonga Deliverables (i) Completion of multi-hazard climate change and disaster risk assessment for building. This included assessing risk from flooding, heavy rainfall, cyclones, strong winds, extreme heat, and sea level rise and coastal hazards; (ii) Development of report, including risk rating for asset.
Project name: Addressing Climate Change Loss and Damage: Partner Design Support Client: MFAT / Tonkin + Taylor Project period: Mon, 04/03/2024 - 12:00 - Fri, 05/04/2024 - 12:00 Position: Climate Financing Specialist Location: Pacific Regional Deliverables (i) Review/input into design of other projects/activities; (ii) Engaging with government stakeholders/development partners; (iii) Supporting design of Vanuatu project design for MFAT funding.
Project name: New Zealand Climate Change and Health Sector Scenarios Client: Public and private health entities Project period: Mon, 02/10/2023 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/03/2024 - 12:00 Position: Health and Climate Change Expert Location: New Zealand Deliverables (i) Design of climate change scenario analysis methodology; (ii) Population health research, including health risks from climate hazards, and identification and assessment of climate change drivers (including global health security) (iii) Stakeholder consultation and engagement to elicit information from sectoral experts; (iv) Development of three climate change scenarios (2025-2100), which outline three distinctly plausible futures for NZ; (v) Development of guidance to support health sector agencies use scenario narratives for their strategic planning and climate reporting requirements.
Project name: Supporting Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management in Emergency Preparedness and Response Diagnostics / Investment Planning Client: World Bank Project period: Fri, 16/12/2022 - 12:00 - Thu, 30/03/2023 - 12:00 Position: Investment Planning Specialist Location: Cambodia Deliverables (i) Developed legal and institutional assessment for diagnostic report, focusing on policies, practices, as well as remaining gaps; (ii) Identified opportunities that may require limited targeted funding to reach a “tipping point” for certain emergency preparedness and response system capabilities; (iii) Identifying actionable recommendations to address identified gaps; (iv) Undertaking multi-criteria analysis to prioritise project ideas; (v) Developing investment plan with prioritised and costed project ideas for the World Bank and other development partners to finance, which included the formulation of results frameworks for interventions.
Project name: Green and Innovative Finance Initiative for Scaling Up Southeast Asian Infrastructure Client: Asian Development Bank Project period: Wed, 02/11/2022 - 12:00 - Thu, 30/11/2023 - 12:00 Position: Climate Change Public Policy Specialist Location: Cambodia Deliverables (i) Analysed existing climate change and environment protection policies and international commitments; (ii) Collated best international practices in climate change public policies, particularly those applied to the different stages of public investment (including national, sub-national and public-private investments); (iii) Assessed the current practices in Cambodia in the assessment and implementation of climate change mitigation or adaptation interventions in PIM project cycle and identified gaps; (iv) Prepared an issues paper on the gaps and present suggestions for integrating best practices in climate change assessment and mitigation/adaptive interventions in the PIM project cycle; (v) Supported the development of umbrella PIM guidelines to reflect best practices in climate change assessment and mitigation/adaptive interventions; (vi) Prepared guidance notes on notes on the methodology for undertaking the assessment of climate change impacts and the associated mitigation/adaption interventions (e.g., climate risk and vulnerability assessment for infrastructure assets); (vii) Coordinated and participated in country consultations related to the umbrella PIM guidelines.
Project name: Review of the Sarakata flood mitigation guidelines and development of a flood management plan and early warning system Client: SPREP Project period: Mon, 03/10/2022 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/09/2023 - 12:00 Position: Project Manager and Institutional Specialist Location: Vanuatu Deliverables (i) Assessing institutional framework, and recommendations on reforms; (ii) Development of MoU; (iii) Incorporation of international best practices on flood management planning; (iv) Project management.
Project name: Pacific National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Guidelines Client: SPREP Project period: Mon, 13/12/2021 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/04/2022 - 12:00 Position: Climate Adaptation and Financing Expert Location: Pacific Regional Deliverables (i) Research on international best practices, including climate risk assessments, sectoral adaptation processes, and monitoring, evaluation and learning; (ii) Assessment and evaluation of donor assistance on climate adaptation to Pacific Island Countries; (iii) Stakeholder engagement and workshop delivery; (iv) Guideline development and report writing.
Employment date: Mon, 05/08/2019 - 12:00 - Fri, 29/03/2024 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Tonkin + Taylor Position: Senior Climate Change and Resilience Consultant and Project Manager Location: New Zealand
Project name: Tonga Parliament Buildings – Design Services Project & Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment Client: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Project period: Mon, 02/11/2020 - 12:00 - Fri, 27/11/2020 - 12:00 Position: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Specialist Location: Tonga Deliverables (i) Completion of multi-hazard climate change and disaster risk assessment for building. This included assessing risk from flooding, heavy rainfall, cyclones, strong winds, extreme heat, and sea level rise and coastal hazards; (ii) Development of report, including risk rating for asset.