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.

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.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 77,000
Private, up to: Ksh 33,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

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 favour

Kenya's devolved government and growing NGO sector create diverse employment opportunities.
Community development skills are transferable across government, NGO, and private sectors.

Against it

Social work is emotionally demanding, involving exposure to vulnerable populations and distressing situations.
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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in Social Work and Community Development Level 5 from an accredited TVET institution.

English or Kiswahili
Mathematics

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

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

Accredited by

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.

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

Industry links

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI)

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.