Diploma in Community Development and Social Work
The Diploma in Community Development and Social Work is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Social Sciences cluster) that trains graduates to support individuals, families, and communities facing social, economic, and developmental challenges.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 77,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 231,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 64,700 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 172 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
Students study social work theory and practice, community development, counselling basics, project management, social policy, and human behaviour, building both direct-service and programme-management skills. Skills RequiredSocial Work PracticeCommunity DevelopmentBasic CounsellingProject ManagementSocial Policy AnalysisCase ManagementKey SubjectsIntroduction to Social WorkCommunity DevelopmentHuman Behaviour and Social EnvironmentCounselling BasicsProject Planning and ManagementSocial PolicyCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) RecognitionSpecializationsSocial Work PracticeFocus on direct casework with individuals and families. Community DevelopmentFocus on group and area-based development programme design and delivery. Skills RequiredBasic CounsellingCase managementCommunity DevelopmentProject ManagementSocial Policy AnalysisSocial Work PracticeKey SubjectsIntroduction to Social WorkCommunity DevelopmentHuman Behaviour and Social EnvironmentCounselling BasicsProject Planning and ManagementSocial PolicyCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsSocial Work PracticeFocus on direct casework with individuals and families. Community DevelopmentFocus on group and area-based development programme design and delivery.
Kenya's active NGO, county government, and faith-based development sector creates consistent demand for trained social workers and community development officers to design and deliver social programmes.
Training combines classroom instruction with fieldwork placements in communities, social welfare offices, or NGOs, plus a supervised industrial attachment culminating in a practicum report.
Graduates work as social workers, community development officers, and project assistants for county governments, NGOs, and faith-based organisations, with progression into Bachelor of Social Work or Community Development degrees.
The programme suits students with strong interpersonal skills and a genuine interest in social welfare who want a people-facing career addressing community-level challenges.
What you study
6 subjects- Introduction to Social Work
- Community Development
- Human Behaviour and Social Environment
- Counselling Basics
- Project Planning and Management
- Social Policy
Modules
10 in the programmeCommunication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Written and oral communication skills for professional workplace communication and effective correspondence.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business planning and enterprise skills for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Social Work Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social work methods and intervention as applied to community development and social work principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Introduction to Social Work
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational theories and values of the social work profession for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Community Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and methods of community-based development work for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Human Behaviour and Social Environment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychosocial development and the impact of environment on behaviour for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Counselling Basics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Foundational counselling skills for social work practice for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Project Planning and Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Designing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Fieldwork Attachment / Practicum
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised fieldwork placement with a social welfare or community organisation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Social Work Practice
Focus on direct casework with individuals and families, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Community Development
Focus on group and area-based development programme design and delivery, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Project Management
Designing and managing community development projects including needs assessment, proposal writing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation within Kenyan development contexts.
Research and Advocacy
Conducting community research, data collection, policy advocacy, and social justice campaigns within Kenyan civil society and governance frameworks.
A day as a student
Days combine classroom theory on social work and development with fieldwork visits to community groups, social welfare offices, or NGO project sites, and case-study discussions on real social challenges.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Directly people-centred work with tangible community impact. | Entry-level pay in the sector is modest and often tied to NGO project funding cycles. |
| Wide institutional availability across public TVET colleges and universities. | Emotionally demanding work dealing with vulnerable individuals and families. |
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
TVET 67K, Meru 77K/yr public (kenyaeducationguide, tvet.must.ac.ke). KISWCD 65K, AITEC 36K/yr.
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some NGOs sponsor students in exchange for post-graduation service.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
10 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- University of Eldoret TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship
Closes 1 May 2027FullUniversity of Eldoret / Mastercard Foundation
Full tuition + living expenses
- Mombasa Cement Scholarship
Closes 31 May 2027PartialMombasa Cement Ltd
KES 100,000 per year
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Komaza Scholarship Program
RollingPartialKomaza
KES 50,000 to 150,000 per year
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A relevant certificate from a recognised institution, or professional certificates from bodies such as KASNEB or ACCA.
When it next starts
Taught at 172 institutionsIncluding Maasai Mara University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Rongo University.
Including Maasai Mara University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Rongo University.
Including Maasai Mara University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Rongo University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across social work and community development theory units.
Fieldwork Practicum Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed report from supervised fieldwork placement.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Social Sciences cluster); examined by KNEC at most public TVET colleges.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesProject Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Coordinates community development projects including planning, implementation, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement for NGOs and development organisations.
Social Worker (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000
Provides casework support to individuals and families for a county or NGO.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Designs and coordinates community-based development programmes.
NGO Project Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Supports project implementation and monitoring for a development organisation.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as social workers, community development officers, and project assistants for county governments, NGOs, and faith-based organisations.
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
Tools you will learn
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Tools
Field assessment toolsPrimary
Community mapping, seasonal calendars, wealth ranking, and transect walks for participatory community assessment.
Logical Framework Approach (LFA)
Project planning toolPrimary
Project planning and management framework used by NGOs and development agencies for proposal writing.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Report writing, project proposals, community profiles, and documentation.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for social research and community survey data.
KoBoToolbox
Data collection
Open-source mobile data collection tool for field surveys and community assessments.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Social work is purely volunteer/charity work with no career structure.
It is a structured profession with paid roles across county government, NGOs, and faith-based organisations.
Community development and social work are the same thing.
Social work focuses more on individual/family casework, while community development focuses on group and area-based programmes; this diploma covers both.