Grace Sembe

As a highly motivated and experienced professional with a degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development, I have developed expertise and passion in the field of sustainable business practices and community development. With ten (10) years of experience, I have honed my skills as a trainer, consultant, and mentor, working with organizations, women & youths and communities to drive progress towards sustainable development. I am a results-driven leader with extensive experience in capacity building, environmental sustainability, and community development.

I bring a proven ability to assess organizational and community training needs, design and implement impactful capacity-building programs, and lead effective training, mentorship, and stakeholder engagement initiatives at both individual and group levels. My education, professional experience and passion position me to contribute at a leadership level, guiding teams and organizations toward sustainable solutions and a more resilient future.

Jiinue Enterprise Trainer (JET) - Grassroots Business Fund / DT Global - Mombasa County

(2024-07 - 2025-10)

• Implement the Jiinue Growth Program in Mombasa County
• Mobilization of potential youths and enrollment to the JGP program
• Develop, conduct and manage the delivery of Entrepreneurship and Life skills training and mentorship in Mombasa County
• Plan, support and coordinate training activities
• Conduct Mentorship and coaching for MSMEs under Jiinue Growth Program
• Developing and updating training materials, curriculum and tools
• Support in financial linkages and business networking for MSMEs
• Proper documentation and reporting of activities
• Engage relevant stakeholders and maintaining Partnerships within the portfolio

Business Service development Services Mentor - Equity Bank

(2024-01 - 2024-07)

Provided business development and mentorship services to MSMEs & SMEs under Young Africa Works Kenya (YAWK) program with focus on tailored curriculum development and financial linkages.

• Business development and Mentorship services to MSMEs & SMEs under Young Africa Works Kenya (YAWK)program
• Developed and implemented tailored curriculum programs for mentorship
• Financial linkages of MSMEs and SMEs to the bank and markets in their ecosystems
• Identifying and documenting success stories within the portfolio
• Continuous reporting on program updates

Senior Enterprise Development Officer - Equity Bank - Coast region

(2019-07 - 2024-01)

• Program implementation for Young Africa Works Kenya (YAWK) program targeting women and youth MSMEs
• Mobilization of potential customers and enrollment to the YAWK program
• Organizing and facilitating Entrepreneurship Education, through Start and Improve your business (SIYB) curriculum to MSMEs & SMEs in Coast region
• Entrepreneurship & Financial Content and curriculum development
• Organizing and coordinating Mentorship services to MSMEs & SMEs
• Identifying and documenting success stories within the portfolio
• Credit access links to the bank

Business Relationship officer - Hand in Hand Eastern Africa - Kiambu and Mombasa counties

(2016-02 - 2019-02)

• Community empowerment and capacity building
• Selecting, identifying, profiling and enrolment of potential groups and members in accordance with the established operations policies
• Facilitate training on Resource mobilization, Environment and Climate change focus, green microenterprises development, value addition and market linkages
• Perform budget tracking of projects and submit timely and detailed reports
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with communities and key partners in Kiambu and Mombasa counties
• Donor interactions on project specific and activities

Internship - Child Fund - Kasarani Branch Office

(2014-02 - 2014-04)

Supported community mobilization, training, and risk reduction management initiatives with focus on stakeholder dialogue and field monitoring.

• Facilitated mobilization, training and workshops, and running of community-based risk reduction management committees
• Facilitated dialogue among the community local leadership, government and other stakeholders
• Facilitated and supported the community in linking up with the established local SMEs based platform disseminating DRR and Climate change information
• Conducted mobilization and formation of community groups for training
• Facilitated the various groups' trainings and the follow ups with mentoring and support with relevant livelihoods input
• Undertook regular field monitoring of project intervention
• Developed and submitted progress reports on time as per the donor's agreement

Internship - National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) - Nairobi County Director of Environment Office

(2013-01 - 2013-04)

Assisted in processing of environmental compliance reports and permits, and conducted environmental inspections to determine facility compliance levels.

• Assisted in processing of Environmental Impact Assessment project reports and Environmental Audit reports in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2003
• Assisted in processing of licenses and permits to emit noise and excessive vibration in accordance with Environmental Management and Coordination (noise and excessive vibration, pollution control) Regulation 2009
• Took part in environmental inspection to determine the level of compliance of facilities in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA 1999) in Nairobi County

Consultant in Business Development Service and Training - Sote Hub - Mombasa

Implemented various projects under Blue Economy and Green Economy initiatives including Go-Blue, Waste to work, Compassion International start up support, and Voices for climate action projects with focus on SMEs training, mentorship and business development services.

• Participated in the implementation of the various projects under Blue Economy and Green Economy in Mombasa including Go-Blue, Waste to work, Compassion International start up support, Voices for climate action projects in SMEs training, mentorship and business development services

Entrepreneurship Trainer - Ongoza Training Institute - Kilifi County

Participated in COVID-19 Youth Entrepreneurship and Mentorship Initiative in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation and European Union.

• Participated in the COVID-19 Youth Entrepreneurship and Mentorship Initiative in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation and European Union in Kilifi County

Entrepreneurship Trainer and Mentor - Westerwelle Start-up Haus (WSH) - Mombasa

Delivered entrepreneurship training to MSMEs and SMEs under ENEA program funded by European Union.

• Participated in Entrepreneurship training of MSMEs and SMEs under ENEA program funded by European Union

Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Community Development - Environmental Studies and Community Development - Kenyatta University (2011-09 - 2015-12)

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) - Keveye Girls High School (2007-01 - 2010-11)

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) - Shitoto Primary School (1996-01 - 2006-11)