Admitted Semester 1, 2024
Baraniko Namanoku is a PhD candidate in Environmental Management at the University of the South Pacific, and a recipient of the prestigious U.S.-Pacific Resilience and Adaptation Fellowship Program (US-PRAFP). This fully funded three-year fellowship supports his doctoral research on climate change impacts and community resilience in the Pacific.
Baraniko’s research explores climate change impact, adaptation, migration and policy. In other words, he will explore what people perception regarding climate change and are they willing to spend resources for adaptation or not or/and prefer migration. Baraniko employs a mixed methods of investigation such as participatory approach, survey, observation including a talanoa approach (whereby the investigator converses with the respondent). He framed his research on Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) as how livelihood source is being compromised by climate change impact.
His work aims to inform policy makers on what climate action is needed on the ground if people are willing to adapt or set the platform for migration with a strong commitment to principles such as collaboration, inclusion, sustainability and innovation
Prior to beginning his PhD, Baraniko earned a Master’s degree in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning from the University of Porto (Portugal), and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Education from USP. He served for over a decade as a civil servant in both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment and Conservation Division, contributing to climate-related projects and national development initiatives.
Email: s96001633@student.usp.ac.fj / bnamanoku@yahoo.com
