September 21, 2020

Studied at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone, and graduated with a B.Sc. Hons. Geology. Her undergraduate project “Ground Water Mapping in the Jui Community” focused on collecting primary data and using a software called SURFER to create different maps indicating groundwater flow directions in the study area. Grace is certified in fresh water monitoring Programme design, data handling, analysis and presentation from the Environmental Research Institute, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Gems/Water Company Development, and University College Cork (UCC).

Ms. Kainessie has 3+ years of professional experience in hydrological and water quality monitoring, catchment assessment and data management of water resources in Sierra Leone. She has actively participated in the climate risk project, catchment assessment and delineation project and other funded projects by various donors including the UK department for International Development (DFID), African Development Bank (AFDB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Grace is proficient in ArcGIS, MS Office, Surfer and Open Data Kit (ODK). She has experience in using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and Hydromet V2 software. Grace can fly a drone for water quality sampling equipment such as Lovidond water quality test kit, Akvo Caddisfly, Hydrotech and Eutech.

Currently attached at the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) as a technical staff, her role includes leading the agency’s monthly water quality monitoring in the Rokel River Basin, a 386 km river flowing from the tropical mountains in the northeast to the Atlantic Ocean in the west of Sierra Leone. Grace is responsible for the development of monitoring plans and reporting the status of the river basin monthly. She also participates in the installation and running of staff gauges across river basins and in the configuration of hydrological monitoring networks across 35 river stations in Sierra Leone.

As a young professional, Madam Grace Nyavaga Kainessie joined The Sierra Leone Institution of Geoscientists (SLIG) because she sees SLIG as a professional body that serves as a platform to train and groom young graduates to prepare them for the real world because what you study at the University is more theoretical and the real work world is more practical. She says SLIG is doing a great Job. However, sorting out internship programs for young graduates to have hands-on experience, organizing more trainings and workshops to teach graduates more skills will be an added advantage. Her dreams for the next five (5) years is to pursue a Master’s degree and create impact within the water industry because she has a passion for that area of study. She wishes to be a pioneer to get more people on board especially females to be involved in water management issues in Sierra Leone.