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Social Sciences

Diploma in Social Development

The Diploma in Social Work and Community Development is a KNEC and TVET-CDACC examined programme that trains professionals for social development and community work. The course covers social work theory and practice, community development, development economics, project management, advocacy and lobbying, disaster management, counselling psychology, and gender and development across three modules.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 77,000
Ksh 231,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 33,000
Ksh 99,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

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 33,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C- or above, plus 2 subject grades. 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 8 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 develop competencies in community capacity building, resource mobilisation, social rehabilitation, counselling, community leadership, and social policy administration. The programme combines social work theory with practical community development methodologies.

Kenya's devolved government system, growing NGO sector, and emphasis on community-based development have created demand for qualified social development professionals. County governments, NGOs, community-based organisations, and government departments recruit diploma holders for community development and social work roles.

The programme combines classroom theory with community-based fieldwork, counselling practice, and project development exercises. Students conduct community assessments, develop project proposals, and practice counselling techniques. A supervised industrial attachment with an NGO, county government, or community organisation provides hands-on experience.

Graduates work as social work assistants, community development officers, project officers, counselling assistants, and probation officers' assistants. Employers include county governments, NGOs, children's departments, probation offices, and community-based organisations.

This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- (minus) who are passionate about community development and social welfare. It provides a pathway into Kenya's social development sector with progression options to degree programmes in social work or community development.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Research Methods
  • Communication Skills
  • Information Technology
  • Project Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Statistics

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Social Work Theory and Practice

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theories and methods of social work intervention, including casework, group work, and community work approaches for professional practice.

  • Introduction to Community Development

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Principles of participatory community development, community mobilisation strategies, and approaches to sustainable local development.

  • Development Economics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic principles applied to development, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, and economic analysis of community development issues.

  • Community Capacity Building and Empowerment

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Strategies for building community capacity, empowerment approaches, and techniques for strengthening local institutions and community organisations.

  • Project Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for community development initiatives and social welfare programmes.

  • Advocacy and Lobbying

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advocacy strategies, lobbying techniques, and campaign methods for promoting social change, policy reform, and community rights.

  • Resource Mobilization and Fundraising

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Grant writing, donor relations, fundraising strategies, and resource mobilisation techniques for community development projects and programmes.

  • Disaster Management

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Disaster preparedness, response planning, risk reduction, and emergency management for communities affected by natural and human disasters.

  • Social Policy and Administration

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Social policy formulation, implementation, and analysis, including welfare policies and social protection programmes in Kenya.

  • Social Research Project

    Year 3Semester 14 creditsCore

    Independent research project on community development, applying research methods to investigate and address social development issues.

Specialisations

  • Community Development

    Facilitating community-based development projects, capacity building, and participatory planning, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Social Work Practice

    Case management, client support, welfare services, and social rehabilitation programmes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Counselling Psychology

    Basic counselling techniques, mental health support, and referral services for individuals and groups, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Project Management

    Planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social development projects, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

Students attend morning theory classes and spend afternoons in practical sessions, workshops, or laboratory work applying concepts learned in class.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's devolved government and growing NGO sector create diverse employment opportunities.Social work is emotionally demanding, involving exposure to vulnerable populations and distressing situations.
Community development skills are transferable across government, NGO, and private sectors.Entry-level salaries in the social sector are typically modest compared to commercial sectors.

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 courses
Public67k to 77k
67k at Public TVET Colleges (standardised rate)77k at TVET Meru University
Private33k to 33k
33k at KIMTECH College33k at KIMTECH College

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

TVET 67K, Meru TVET 77K/yr pub. KIMTECH 33K/yr priv (tvet.must.ac.ke, kimtech.ac.ke).

Students can access HELB TVET loans, county government bursaries, and NG-CDF bursaries to support their studies.

Funding options

  • HELB loan

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB TVET/Diploma Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Needy Kenyan students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed or accredited diploma programmes at recognised TVET institutions.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

    Bursaries provided by county governments for needy students from their respective counties.

  • NG-CDF Bursary

    BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan

    Constituency Development Fund bursaries for needy students from the respective constituency.

Scholarships you could apply for

11 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C-minimum entry
Alternative entry

Certificate in Social Work and Community Development Level 5 from an accredited TVET institution.

Subject requirements
English or Kiswahili
Mathematics

When it next starts

Taught at 8 institutions
January 20278 institutions

Including Marist International University College, University of Nairobi, Amref International University.

May 20277 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Amref International University, University of Eldoret.

September 20278 institutions

Including Marist International University College, University of Nairobi, Amref International University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Mid-semester and end-of-semester CATs covering theory and practical components.

  • KNEC Module Examinations

    Exam60% of the mark

    National examinations administered by KNEC at the end of each module.

  • Industrial Attachment Assessment

    Practicum10% of the mark

    Supervised industrial attachment report and employer assessment.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Statutory accreditation for TVET institutions offering this diploma programme.

  • Kenya National Examinations Council

    Examination bodyRequired

    Administers national examinations for the diploma programme at each module level.

Programmes accredited by TVETA and examined by KNEC, NITA, or CDACC in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Social Work Assistant

    Medium demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 48,000

    Supports social work activities including case management, client assessment, and welfare service delivery.

  • Community Development Officer

    High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 52,000

    Facilitates community development projects, mobilises resources, and builds community capacity.

  • Project Officer

    Medium demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000

    Manages community development projects including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

  • Counselling Assistant

    Medium demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000

    Provides basic counselling support and referrals for individuals and families in need.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates of the Social Development programme work in relevant industries across Kenya, with opportunities in both public and private sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Office

    Productivity suitePrimary

    Office suite for community development documentation

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysisPrimary

    Spreadsheet for project data tracking and reporting

  • SPSS

    Statistical software

    Statistical analysis software for social research

  • Google Workspace

    Productivity suite

    Cloud suite for collaborative community project work

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • The Social Development diploma is just theory with no practical value.

    The programme emphasises hands-on practical training in workshops, laboratories, and industrial attachment, ensuring graduates are job-ready.

  • Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.

    Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.

Further reading

Read next