About
Climate Finance, Climate Change Adaptation Consultant, Climate Change Lead Researcher
Tookina Research Institute
mhaapio@gmail.com
Summary
Dr. Michael Otoara Ha'apio is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in climate finance and corporate finance, specializing in concept note development, development finance, capacity building, Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) consultancy services, and community development.
Professional Experience:
• Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisor for Solomon Islands (2021–Present): Dr. Ha'apio serves as the National Climate Finance Advisor, focusing on enhancing the country's capacity to access and manage climate finance.
• TNA Adaptation Consultant: He has contributed to TNA adaptation projects for the Republic of Nauru (2019–2020) providing expert guidance on climate adaptation strategies.
• University Fellow and Lecturer: Dr. Ha'apio was a fellow at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji, where he taught Climate Finance and Adaptation Project Design. He also played a pivotal role in developing the first Master's program in Natural Resource Management at the Solomon Islands National University.
• Blue Nature Alliance Project Focal Point: He currently serves as the focal point for the Blue Nature Alliance Project in Solomon Islands, assisting international consultants in designing and developing sustainable financing solutions for marine conservation.
• Founding Board Member: Dr. Ha'apio is a founding board member of the Coral Triangle Conservation Trust Fund, an entity established under the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) based in Indonesia, dedicated to marine conservation efforts.
• Founding Board member: Tookina Research Institute, Panatina Valley, Honiara, Solomon Islands
• Lecturer in Business Management: He teaches the Professional Diploma in Business Management at the University of the South Pacific's Solomon Islands Campus, sharing his expertise in corporate finance and management.
Academic Achievements:
• Dr. Ha'apio received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Best Student Research at USP in both 2015 and 2019, recognizing his outstanding contributions to academic research.
Through his extensive experience and dedication, Dr. Ha'apio has significantly advanced climate finance initiatives, capacity building, and community development in the Pacific region.
Professional Experience:
• Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisor for Solomon Islands (2021–Present): Dr. Ha'apio serves as the National Climate Finance Advisor, focusing on enhancing the country's capacity to access and manage climate finance.
• TNA Adaptation Consultant: He has contributed to TNA adaptation projects for the Republic of Nauru (2019–2020) providing expert guidance on climate adaptation strategies.
• University Fellow and Lecturer: Dr. Ha'apio was a fellow at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji, where he taught Climate Finance and Adaptation Project Design. He also played a pivotal role in developing the first Master's program in Natural Resource Management at the Solomon Islands National University.
• Blue Nature Alliance Project Focal Point: He currently serves as the focal point for the Blue Nature Alliance Project in Solomon Islands, assisting international consultants in designing and developing sustainable financing solutions for marine conservation.
• Founding Board Member: Dr. Ha'apio is a founding board member of the Coral Triangle Conservation Trust Fund, an entity established under the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) based in Indonesia, dedicated to marine conservation efforts.
• Founding Board member: Tookina Research Institute, Panatina Valley, Honiara, Solomon Islands
• Lecturer in Business Management: He teaches the Professional Diploma in Business Management at the University of the South Pacific's Solomon Islands Campus, sharing his expertise in corporate finance and management.
Academic Achievements:
• Dr. Ha'apio received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Best Student Research at USP in both 2015 and 2019, recognizing his outstanding contributions to academic research.
Through his extensive experience and dedication, Dr. Ha'apio has significantly advanced climate finance initiatives, capacity building, and community development in the Pacific region.
Publications
Title: Climate Change Adaptation on Small Island States: An Assessment of Limits and Constraints. Publisher: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Date published: Mon, 31/05/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060602
Title: Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji Publisher: Agricultural Systems Date published: Sun, 16/05/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103099
Title: Climate change adaptation as a development challenge to small Island states: A case study from the Solomon Islands Publisher: Environmental Science & Policy Environmental Science & Policy Date published: Tue, 19/05/2020 - 12:00 Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.008
Title: Transformation of rural communities: lessons from a local self-initiative for building resilience in the Solomon Islands Publisher: Local Environment, vol. 23, issue 3, pp. 352-365 Date published: Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00 Link: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2018LoEnv..23..352O/doi:10.1080/13549839.2017.1420640
Title: A ‘Cost Barrier’ Perspective to Adaptation on a Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and Mangrove Rehabilitation Projects (MRP) in Solomon Islands Publisher: Springer International Publishing Date published: Wed, 20/05/2020 - 12:00 Link: https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/a-cost-barrier-perspective-to-adaptation-on-a-coral-triangle-ini/15227420
Title: Limits and Barriers to Transformation: A Case Study of April Ridge Relocation Initiative, East Honiara, Solomon Islands Publisher: Springer Publishing Internation Date published: Thu, 11/01/2018 - 12:00 Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-70703-7_24
Title: Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Socioeconomic Attributes of Rural Households in Solomon Islands Publisher: In book: Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific RegionEdition: 1Chapter: 17Publisher: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015Editors: Walter Leal Filhio Edito Date published: Thu, 01/10/2015 - 12:00 Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-14938-7_17
Title: Mapping the economic costs and benefits of Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and Mangrove Rehabilitation Projects (MRP) in Solomon Islands: A study of two MPAs and one MRP Publisher: International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology International Journal of Sustainable Developme Date published: Tue, 01/04/2014 - 12:00 Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2014.957254
Title: Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji Publisher: Agricultural Systems Date published: Sun, 16/05/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103099
Title: Climate change adaptation as a development challenge to small Island states: A case study from the Solomon Islands Publisher: Environmental Science & Policy Environmental Science & Policy Date published: Tue, 19/05/2020 - 12:00 Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.008
Title: Transformation of rural communities: lessons from a local self-initiative for building resilience in the Solomon Islands Publisher: Local Environment, vol. 23, issue 3, pp. 352-365 Date published: Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00 Link: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2018LoEnv..23..352O/doi:10.1080/13549839.2017.1420640
Title: A ‘Cost Barrier’ Perspective to Adaptation on a Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and Mangrove Rehabilitation Projects (MRP) in Solomon Islands Publisher: Springer International Publishing Date published: Wed, 20/05/2020 - 12:00 Link: https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/a-cost-barrier-perspective-to-adaptation-on-a-coral-triangle-ini/15227420
Title: Limits and Barriers to Transformation: A Case Study of April Ridge Relocation Initiative, East Honiara, Solomon Islands Publisher: Springer Publishing Internation Date published: Thu, 11/01/2018 - 12:00 Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-70703-7_24
Title: Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Socioeconomic Attributes of Rural Households in Solomon Islands Publisher: In book: Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific RegionEdition: 1Chapter: 17Publisher: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015Editors: Walter Leal Filhio Edito Date published: Thu, 01/10/2015 - 12:00 Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-14938-7_17
Title: Mapping the economic costs and benefits of Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and Mangrove Rehabilitation Projects (MRP) in Solomon Islands: A study of two MPAs and one MRP Publisher: International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology International Journal of Sustainable Developme Date published: Tue, 01/04/2014 - 12:00 Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2014.957254
Qualifications
Degree: Public Management & Administrtaion and Banking & Finance Period: 2003-2005 Status: Completed Education institution: University of the South Pacific Country: Fiji
Degree: Master of Business Administration Period: 2012 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Degree: Master of Science in Climate Change Period: 2013-2015 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change -Adaptation Period: 2015-2018 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Degree: Master of Business Administration Period: 2012 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Degree: Master of Science in Climate Change Period: 2013-2015 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change -Adaptation Period: 2015-2018 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji