Craft in Social Work and Community Development
The Craft Certificate in Social Work and Community Development is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in social work practice, community development, and welfare support skills. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic counselling, communication, welfare assistance, community engagement, project support, and field work.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 45,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, with 2 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 150 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers communication skills, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and occupational safety. Core units include basic counselling, communication, welfare assistance, safety in social work, project support, basic social work, community engagement, field work, and industrial attachment in a social work organisation or community development project.
Kenya's social development sector, including NGOs, community-based organisations, government departments, and faith-based organisations, creates demand for certified social work and community development personnel. Community development projects, welfare programmes, humanitarian initiatives, and social services require trained staff for field operations and community engagement.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in community and field environments. Students practice counselling, communication, community engagement, welfare assistance, and project support under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in social work organisations or community projects where students apply their skills in real social development environments.
Graduates work as social work assistants, community development assistants, welfare assistants, field work assistants, and project support assistants in NGOs, community-based organisations, government departments, and faith-based organisations. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Social Work and Community Development for specialised social work and community development roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in community service and social development and seeking technical positions in the social work and community development sector.
What you study
8 subjects- Basic Social Work
- Community Engagement
- Basic Counselling
- Welfare Assistance
- Project Support
- Communication
- Safety
- Field Work
Modules
8 in the programmeSafety in Social Work
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Safety in community and field work including personal safety, risk awareness, and safe practices during home visits and field operations.
Basic Social Work
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic social work principles and practice including human behaviour, social systems, and fundamental social work concepts.
Community Engagement
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Engaging communities in development including community entry, participation facilitation, and community mobilisation techniques.
Basic Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic counselling techniques including active listening, empathy, rapport building, and supportive communication for social work practice.
Welfare Assistance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Supporting welfare programmes including relief distribution, beneficiary registration, and basic welfare activity assistance.
Project Support
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Supporting community projects including project preparation, community mobilisation, and basic project implementation assistance.
Communication
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Communication skills for social work including interpersonal communication, report writing, and basic community communication methods.
Field Work
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Practical community field work including home visits, needs assessment, data collection, and community outreach activities.
Specialisations
Field Operations
Focus on field work including home visits, community surveys, data collection, and basic field support for social work programmes.
General Social Work Support
General social work assistance including client handling, documentation support, and routine office duties under social worker supervision.
Welfare Support
Specialisation in welfare assistance including relief distribution, beneficiary registration, and basic welfare programme support.
Community Mobilisation
Focus on community engagement including community entry, rapport building, and participatory development for community programmes.
A day as a student
Students spend most of their time in practical sessions — community engagement, basic counselling practice, welfare assistance exercises, and field visits to communities.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Practical social work skills for immediate employment. | Social work can be emotionally demanding. |
| Kenya's social sector has strong demand. | Field work may involve challenging environments. |
| Foundation for progression to certificate and diploma. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 241 social sciences coursesAnnual 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
Public 67K/yr (kamukunjitvc.ac.ke). Pvt AITEC 36K, Summit 45K/yr.
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
Scholarships you could apply for
1 usable where it is taught- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.
When it next starts
Taught at 150 institutionsIncluding Katine Technical Training Institute, Rangwe Technical and Vocational College, Bumbe National Polytechnic.
Including Katine Technical Training Institute, Rangwe Technical and Vocational College, Bumbe National Polytechnic.
Including Katine Technical Training Institute, Rangwe Technical and Vocational College, Bumbe National Polytechnic.
How you are assessed
3 componentsTheory Assessment
Test20% of the mark
Written assessment of supporting social work knowledge.
Community Projects
Project30% of the mark
Completion of community engagement and welfare projects.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum50% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical social work skills.
Accreditation
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesField Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 48,000
Support field operations.
Social Work Assistant
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Support social work operations.
Welfare Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 50,000
Support welfare programmes.
Community Mobiliser
High demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 58,000
Mobilise communities for development.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as social work assistants and community mobilisers in NGOs, community organisations, and government departments across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Craft social work is not a real qualification
It is a TVET-CDACC certified qualification recognised by social sector employers.
Social work doesn't need training
Professional social work requires counselling, ethics, and community engagement skills.
Craft graduates cannot advance
Craft graduates can progress to certificate, diploma, and degree in social work.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.