Business

Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship

The Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship provides foundational training in social enterprise development, social innovation, business models for social impact, and sustainable development. Students learn social entrepreneurship concepts, social enterprise design, impact measurement, social innovation, and sustainable business models. The programme is designed for individuals seeking to start or work in social enterprises or as a pathway to further studies in social entrepreneurship.

Students develop competencies in social entrepreneurship, social enterprise design, impact measurement, social innovation, business planning, and sustainable development. The curriculum covers introduction to social entrepreneurship, social enterprise business models, social innovation, impact measurement, business planning for social enterprises, financial sustainability, marketing for social enterprises, and social enterprise project work. Practical skills are developed through case studies and enterprise development exercises.

Social entrepreneurship is growing in Kenya as a model for addressing social challenges through sustainable business approaches. Social enterprises, NGOs, community organisations, and development agencies require personnel who understand social enterprise development and impact. Kenya has one of Africa's most vibrant social enterprise sectors. The programme addresses the demand for foundational social entrepreneurship training.

The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, practical exercises, and social enterprise project work. Students study social enterprise models, analyse social impact, develop business plans, and design social innovations. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, group discussions, and project-based work. The programme is offered in blended mode (online and face-to-face).

Graduates find employment as social enterprise assistants, programme assistants in social enterprises, community enterprise coordinators, or start their own social enterprises. The certificate also provides a pathway to diploma programmes in social entrepreneurship at Tangaza University.

This programme is ideal for aspiring social entrepreneurs, NGO workers, community leaders, and individuals seeking to combine business skills with social impact. The programme provides practical skills for starting and managing social enterprises.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 60,000
Private, up to: Ksh 61,650
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Blended (Online and Face-to-face)
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
Social Enterprise Business Models
Social Innovation
Impact Measurement
Business Planning for Social Enterprises
Financial Sustainability
Marketing for Social Enterprises
Social Enterprise Law and Governance
Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation
Social Enterprise Project Work

Modules

8 in the programme

Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to social entrepreneurship covering social enterprise concepts, history, types of social enterprises, the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Kenya, and the role of social entrepreneurs.
Social Enterprise Business Models
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social enterprise business models covering revenue models, social value propositions, beneficiary models, cross-subsidisation, and designing sustainable business models for social impact.
Social Innovation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social innovation covering innovation processes, design thinking for social impact, identifying social problems, developing innovative solutions, and scaling social innovations.
Impact Measurement and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Impact measurement covering impact frameworks, theory of change, impact indicators, data collection for impact, and managing and reporting social impact.
Business Planning for Social Enterprises
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Business planning covering business plan development for social enterprises, market analysis, operational planning, financial projections, and sustainability planning.
Financial Sustainability and Fundraising
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Financial sustainability covering revenue diversification, cost management, financial planning, fundraising strategies, grant writing, and resource mobilisation for social enterprises.
Marketing and Governance for Social Enterprises
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Marketing for social enterprises covering social marketing, beneficiary communication, brand building, and governance structures, legal frameworks, and accountability for social enterprises.
Social Enterprise Project and Capstone
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
A social enterprise project developing a complete business plan for a social enterprise, including social value proposition, business model, impact plan, and financial projections.

Specialisations

Social Enterprise Development
Focus on social enterprise design, business model development, business planning, and managing social enterprise operations.
Social Innovation
Focus on innovation processes, design thinking for social impact, and developing and scaling social innovations.
Impact Measurement
Focus on impact frameworks, theory of change, impact data collection, and managing and reporting social impact.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on social entrepreneurship theory with afternoon case study discussions and enterprise development exercises. Students analyse social enterprise models, develop business plans, design social innovations, and practise impact measurement. Group work involves developing social enterprise plans and pitching social venture ideas. The blended format combines online learning with face-to-face sessions. The programme emphasises practical social enterprise development skills.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has one of Africa's most vibrant social enterprise sectors with growing opportunities.
Blended learning mode provides flexibility for working professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Provides skills for starting social enterprises and a pathway to diploma programmes in social entrepreneurship.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one university, limiting accessibility.
Social enterprise careers may be limited without further study or entrepreneurial initiative.
Social enterprises face challenges in achieving both financial sustainability and social impact.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public60k to 60k

60k at Chuka University60k at Chuka University

Private36k to 62k

36k at Tangaza University62k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Chuka Cert Entrepreneurship 60K/yr public (chuka.ac.ke). Tangaza 36K, MKU 61.65K priv.

HELB loans and NGCDF bursaries are available for eligible Kenyan students. Tangaza University may offer church sponsorship or institutional scholarships for social transformation students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
NGCDF Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities
NGCDF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective constituencies pursuing certificate-level studies

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D+
Alternative entry: KCSE D+ (Plus) or equivalent. Contact Tangaza University for specific entry requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment
Written examination40% of the mark
Regular assessments evaluating understanding of social entrepreneurship, business models, and impact measurement concepts.
Case Studies and Enterprise Assignments
Project30% of the mark
Case study analyses of social enterprises, business plan development, and social innovation assignments.
End of Semester Examinations and Capstone Project
Project30% of the mark
Final examinations and a capstone social enterprise business plan demonstrating applied competencies.

Accreditation

Tangaza University is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered under the Institute for Social Transformation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Tangaza University is accredited by CUE.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Social Enterprise Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 55,000
Assists in social enterprise operations, supporting business activities, impact measurement, programme delivery, and enterprise coordination in social enterprises or NGOs.
Programme Assistant (Social Enterprise)
Moderate demand
Supports social enterprise programmes in NGOs or development organisations, assisting with programme implementation, beneficiary engagement, and impact monitoring.
Community Enterprise Coordinator
Moderate demand
Coordinates community enterprise initiatives in community organisations or development agencies, supporting community groups in developing income-generating activities.
Social Entrepreneur (Self-Employed)
Moderate demand
Starts and runs a social enterprise addressing a social challenge in areas such as education, health, environment, agriculture, or community development.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as social enterprise assistants, programme assistants, and community enterprise coordinators in social enterprises, NGOs, and development organisations, with opportunities to start their own social enterprises or progress to diploma programmes.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social entrepreneurship is just charity work.
Social entrepreneurship combines business principles with social impact, creating sustainable enterprises that generate revenue while addressing social challenges.
Social enterprises cannot make profit.
Social enterprises can be profitable — the key distinction is that profit is reinvested in the social mission rather than distributed to shareholders.
A certificate in social entrepreneurship has limited career value.
Kenya's social enterprise sector is growing, and the certificate provides skills for starting social enterprises and working in development organisations.
Social entrepreneurship is only for NGO workers.
Social entrepreneurship skills are valuable for business owners, community leaders, development workers, and anyone seeking to create social impact through enterprise.