Samoa

Previously CFAN advisor to Fiji, where he mobilized more than $50m in climate finance, Shelveen Kumar now serves as CFAN advisor to Samoa. A Fiji citizen, Shelveen’s work in the Pacific is both a personal and professional priority. With several years under his belt now as a climate finance advisor, Shelveen reflects on his position: “In this role we work with the government, we work with the investors, private sector, public sector and other development agencies to design project proposals that ultimately benefit the most vulnerable. Beneficiaries of these projects should have the support they need to help them build the resilience they need to sustain in this changing world.”

Now working in Samoa, Shelveen has stakeholder discussions and project concepts underway on mangrove restoration, carbon credit or capture, and grid stability, among others. The work remains exciting: “You get to meet with a lot of people with different mindset, different ideas or innovative ideas,” he says. “You get to learn something new each day with a each new type of project you are working on.”

With nearly ten years of professional experience and expertise in strategic planning, Audit & Advisory and Project Management, Shelveen has worked for KPMG, conducting quality assurance audits for various organizations and donor projects, and has also led and participated in delivering key projects for Fiji’s national carrier, Fiji Airways as a Revenue Management Analyst and more recently has gained experience in delivering private sector development programs.

He received his education at the University of South Pacific with a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce and currently pursuing a Master’s degree by Research in the same discipline. Shelveen also holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting and Human Resource Management & Employment Relations and has been the gold medal recipient for the most outstanding graduate in the School of Business and Management.