Social Sciences

Diploma in Social Work and Community Development

The Diploma in Social Work and Community Development is a three-year programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions across Kenya. It equips students with competencies in social work practice, community development, project management, and counselling. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Module I covers communication skills, information communication technology, introduction to community development, social work theory and practice, development economics, entrepreneurship, community-based organisations, and community capacity building and partnerships. Students learn foundational concepts in social work, community mobilisation, and economic development principles.

Module II advances to social research methods, resource mobilisation and fundraising, project management, advocacy and lobbying, HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, basic mathematics, resource management, statistics, and legal aspects in social work. A supervised project unit is included. Module III covers social psychology and human development, introduction to counselling, social rehabilitation and reintegration, disaster management, social policy and administration, and a practicum.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus) or a pass in a relevant Craft Certificate in social development, community development, or counselling. The programme is available at numerous public TVET institutions including Nairobi Technical Training Institute, Kabete National Polytechnic, and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute.

Graduates pursue careers as social workers, community development officers, project officers, counselling assistants, and programme coordinators in government ministries, county governments, NGOs, and community-based organisations. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Higher National Diploma and subsequently to a bachelor's degree in social work or community development.

The programme includes a compulsory industrial attachment and practicum that provides students with supervised field experience in community settings. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 77,000
Private, up to: Ksh 60,000
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Social Work Theory and Practice
Community Development
Development Economics
Social Research Methods
Project Management
Counselling Psychology
Advocacy and Lobbying
Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising
Disaster Management
Social Policy and Administration

Modules

12 in the programme

Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles of effective communication, interpersonal skills, and report writing for social work practice.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
ICT fundamentals for social work, data management, and digital tools for community development.
Introduction to Community Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of community development, participatory approaches, and community mobilisation.
Social Work Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social work theories, methods, and practice models applied in Kenyan contexts.
Development Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic principles applied to community development, poverty reduction, and resource allocation.
Social Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques for social research.
Project Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in community development contexts.
Advocacy and Lobbying
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles and techniques of advocacy, lobbying, and policy influence for social change.
Social Psychology and Human Development
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological theories of human development across the lifespan and their application to social work.
Introduction to Counselling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling theories, techniques, and ethical practice in social work settings.
Disaster Management
Year 3Semester 12 creditsCore
Disaster preparedness, response, and recovery in community settings.
Practicum
Year 3Semester 24 creditsCore
Supervised field placement in a social work or community development organisation applying learned competencies.

Specialisations

Social Work Practice
Focus on case management, counselling, and social rehabilitation.
Community Development
Specialisation in community mobilisation, capacity building, and project management.
Counselling Psychology
Focus on counselling techniques, mental health support, and crisis intervention.
Disaster Management
Specialisation in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Project Management
Focus on development project planning, implementation, and evaluation.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on social work theory or community development principles with afternoon field visits to community projects, case study discussions, and counselling role-play exercises.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for social workers in Kenya's expanding NGO and county government sectors.
Practical curriculum with field practicum providing real community experience.
Affordable training at public TVET institutions with government capitation and HELB funding.

Against it

Emotionally demanding work requiring resilience and strong coping mechanisms.
Entry-level salaries in some NGOs may be modest compared to corporate sectors.
Field practicum and industrial attachment may require placement in remote areas.

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

Public57k to 77k

57k at Meru University of Science and Technology77k at TVET Meru University

Private33k to 60k

33k at KIMTECH College60k at The East African 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

MUT 56.6K, Meru TVET 77K/yr pub. KIMTECH 33K, TEAU 60K/yr priv (institution sites).

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 60,000 per year are available for eligible TVET diploma students. County bursaries are also available.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions. Loan ranges from KES 40,000 to KES 60,000 per year.
KUCCPS Government Capitation
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding covering most tuition costs.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students resident in their counties.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Pass in a relevant Craft Certificate in Social Development, Community Development, or Counselling, or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

End of Module KNEC Examinations
Written examination70% of the mark
KNEC-administered examinations at the end of each module covering all units studied.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Internal continuous assessment tests administered by the institution throughout each module.
Practicum Assessment
Practical assessment10% of the mark
Supervised field practicum assessment evaluating competencies in real community settings.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC under course code DSW. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited to offer this programme.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
InstitutionalRequired
All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Social Worker
High demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides social support, case management, and counselling services in government and NGO settings.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 420,000 to Ksh 720,000
Coordinates community development projects and mobilises resources at county or sub-county level.
Project Officer (NGO)
Moderate demandKsh 480,000 to Ksh 840,000
Manages NGO projects including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
Counselling Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Provides basic counselling support under supervision in schools, hospitals, or community centres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are employed as social workers, community development officers, and project coordinators in government, NGOs, and community-based organisations across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary
KoboToolbox (Data Collection)
Software

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social work is volunteering, not a professional career.
Social work is a regulated profession in Kenya with structured training, KNEC certification, and employment opportunities in government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Community development graduates only work in rural areas.
Graduates work in diverse settings including urban NGOs, government ministries, county governments, schools, hospitals, and international development agencies.
The diploma limits career growth compared to a degree.
The diploma provides a direct progression pathway to a Higher National Diploma and subsequently to a bachelor's degree in social work or community development.
Social work is only for women.
The profession is open to all genders, with male social workers particularly in demand for roles involving work with boys and men in community settings.