Fiji

When asked what draws her to work in the Pacific, the answer for Bahumi Motlhanka is clear: It’s about working where the need is greatest. “The reality,” she says, “is that Pacific Island communities and countries are really at the front line of the impacts of climate change. There are specific challenges to accessing climate finance for the Pacific, particularly as it relates to population size and the challenges around that when you design a project. I think anyone who's worked on climate finance in the Pacific can speak to that and that there isn't really - or there doesn't seem to be - an understanding of the Pacific context within a lot of these organizations that want to fund climate finance in the Pacific.  

“Wanting to work to get the message out and get the funding that helps these communities is one of the main things that are attracted to me to working in the Pacific on climate finance in particular.” 

Now CFAN advisor to Fiji, Bahumi has nearly five years of experience in environment-focused work & projects financed by multilateral institutions, including the Global Environment Facility. She has worked on projects focused on climate adaptation and mitigation, chemicals and waste, water, sanitation and hygiene. Most recently while based in Botswana, she was responsible for technical oversight of Conservation International's Green Climate Fund- financed projects. She has previously been a Consultant for United Nations agencies including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 

Bahumi holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, both from the University of Cambridge. She speaks English, Setswana, and some French.