Safer workplaces and stronger programmes across Africa
Tese Consulting helps NGOs, donor funded programmes and corporate employers keep their people safe at work through Safe Workspaces, our training and policy programme. We also help organisations win and manage institutional funding.
Tese means "all of us"
Tese is a Shona word for "all of us". It is the idea behind everything we do: a workplace is only safe when it is safe for everyone, and a programme only works when it reaches the people it is meant for.
Tese Consulting is led by Brenda Mkwesha. Before founding Tese, Brenda spent more than 15 years leading programmes, grants and safeguarding across Africa as a Chief Executive, a Kenya Country Lead and a Regional Director responsible for five countries. She leads every assignment and delivers every training session herself.
Safe Workspaces
Safe Workspaces is our training and policy programme for organisations that want their people to be safe at work. It brings together four issues that often sit side by side: sexual harassment and abuse, gender based violence, alcohol and substance use, and gender equality.
These issues stay hidden when staff lack the words to name them or a safe route to report them. One in two people harassed at work tell no one. Safe Workspaces gives staff and managers the skills to recognise harm and respond with care, and gives leaders the policies and reporting channels to back them.
Source: ILO, Lloyd's Register Foundation and Gallup, 2022.
Respect at Work
Preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. Staff learn to recognise harassment, step in safely and support a colleague. Leaders set up confidential reporting channels.
About Respect at WorkGender policy
We help you write a gender policy that fits your organisation and the law, then train leaders and staff so it becomes part of daily practice.
About gender policy supportAlcohol and gender based violence
How drinking raises the risk of violence, why it is never an excuse, and how to respond when someone discloses abuse.
About the GBV sessionBeneath the Surface
Alcohol, drugs and mental health at work. How to start a difficult conversation with a colleague and what employers can do to help.
About Beneath the Surface
GESI training and workplace talks
A full day workshop that gives programme staff and partners a shared language and practical tools for gender equality and social inclusion, built around a hands on gender analysis.
And a 45 to 60 minute talk on men's wellbeing and respect at work, for staff, leaders and boards. Many organisations book it for International Men's Day on 19 November.
Funding and programme support
Many of the organisations we train depend on donor funding. Their donors expect strong proposals, clear results frameworks and safeguarding they can trust.
Brenda has worked on both sides of that relationship. She has won proposals worth €8M from the European Union and $10M from the Royal Swedish Embassy and USAID, managed a $15.5M grant portfolio and approved budgets as a board member.
Grant and proposal writing
From reading the call to the final review, we help you write a proposal that meets every requirement and rests on your own evidence.
About grant writing
Programme design and MEAL
Theory of change, logframes and monitoring systems that let your donor follow your programme from activity to result.
About programme design
Responsible AI for NGOs
A two day workshop that helps your team use AI for proposals and reports without putting data, donors or people at risk.
About the AI workshopWho we work with
NGOs and community organisations. We train staff, write safeguarding and gender policies, and help with funding bids.
International NGOs and intermediaries. We train and support your local partners, from safeguarding to programme design and reporting.
Embassies and government donors. We strengthen safeguarding across your partner portfolio.
Corporate employers. Safe Workspaces helps companies, government bodies and campuses prevent harassment and support staff affected by alcohol and substance use.
Based in Nairobi. Working across Africa.
Brenda has led work in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana and Namibia. We work in person across the region and online anywhere.
How we work
Every engagement starts with a short conversation about your people, your risks and your goals. We look at the policies you already have, then tailor the work to your sector, your culture and the law that applies to you.
Brenda delivers every session personally. Sensitive topics are handled with care: content notes before each scenario, the right to pass at any time, and a local referral map so nobody is left alone with what they share.
After the work is done, we check back in to see what has changed.
Book a free 30 minute call
Tell us what your organisation needs: training for your staff, a policy, or support with a funding bid. Brenda will tell you what it will take.