Business

Master of Arts in Social Development and Management

The Master of Arts in Social Development and Management is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in social development, community development, social management, and development policy. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in social development, community development, NGO management, and social policy.

Core areas include social development, community development, project management, social policy, development economics, gender and development, monitoring and evaluation, social research, governance, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical social development applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with Maseno University as a college. These universities provide training in social development, community development, and social management.

Students develop competencies in social analysis, project management, policy analysis, community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and research. The programme includes coursework, field placements, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Chuka University art-based masters fees are KES 71,000/semester (~KES 142,000/year). Comparable community development programmes at other institutions charge approximately KES 130,000/year. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in relevant field with Upper Second or Lower with experience.

Graduates pursue careers as social development managers, programme managers, community development officers, NGO managers, and social policy analysts in NGOs, government, international organisations, and community-based organisations.

Skills Required

Social Development Planning and Management
Community Development and Participation
Project Management and Proposal Writing
Social Policy Analysis and Development
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Programmes
Gender and Development Mainstreaming
Development Economics and Livelihoods
Social Research and Data Analysis
Governance and Institutional Development
Social Development Research Methods

Key Subjects

Social Development
Community Development
Project Management
Social Policy
Development Economics
Gender and Development
Monitoring and Evaluation
Social Research
Governance
Social Development Research Methods

Certifications

PMI Project Management Certification
AMREF M&E Certification

Specializations

Community Development

Focuses on community development, community mobilisation, participation, community projects, CBOs, and supporting community-driven development.

Project Management

Examines project management, project cycle, proposal writing, log frame, budgeting, implementation, and managing development projects.

Social Policy

Covers social policy, policy analysis, social protection, welfare policy, development policy, and developing and analysing social policy.

Gender and Development

Focuses on gender and development, gender mainstreaming, women empowerment, gender analysis, and integrating gender in development.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Examines monitoring and evaluation, M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection, impact evaluation, and evaluating development programmes.

NGO Management

Covers NGO management, NGO governance, funding, compliance, advocacy, stakeholder management, and managing non-governmental organisations.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 130,000
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Social Development
Community Development
Project Management
Social Policy
Development Economics
Gender and Development
Monitoring and Evaluation
Social Research
Governance
Social Development Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Social Development Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines social development theory, development paradigms, social change, human development, SDGs, capability approach, and understanding social development.
Community Development and Participation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community mobilisation, participation, community projects, CBOs, community empowerment, PRA, and supporting community-driven development.
Project Management for Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines project cycle, proposal writing, log frame, budgeting, implementation, procurement, and managing development projects.
Social Policy and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers social policy, policy analysis, social protection, welfare, safety nets, cash transfers, and developing and analysing social policy.
Development Economics and Livelihoods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines development economics, livelihoods, poverty, inequality, economic growth, informal sector, and understanding economic aspects of development.
Gender and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers gender mainstreaming, women empowerment, gender analysis, gender equality, GBV, and integrating gender in development.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Programmes
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection, baseline, midline, endline, impact evaluation, and evaluating development programmes.
Governance and Decentralisation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers governance, decentralisation, devolution, accountability, participation, institutions, civil society, and understanding governance in development.
NGO Management and Leadership
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines NGO management, NGO governance, funding, compliance, advocacy, stakeholder management, strategic planning, and managing non-governmental organisations.
Social Development Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for social development, study design, qualitative and quantitative methods, PRA, SPSS, and conducting social development research, preparing students for their thesis.
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, innovation, impact investment, CSR, and applying entrepreneurship and innovation to social development.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a social development and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Community Development
Focuses on community development, community mobilisation, participation, community projects, CBOs, and supporting community-driven development.
Project Management
Examines project management, project cycle, proposal writing, log frame, budgeting, implementation, and managing development projects.
Social Policy
Covers social policy, policy analysis, social protection, welfare policy, development policy, and developing and analysing social policy.
Gender and Development
Focuses on gender and development, gender mainstreaming, women empowerment, gender analysis, and integrating gender in development.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Examines monitoring and evaluation, M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection, impact evaluation, and evaluating development programmes.
NGO Management
Covers NGO management, NGO governance, funding, compliance, advocacy, stakeholder management, and managing non-governmental organisations.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Social Development and Management programme begins with morning lectures on social development, community development, or project management. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical social development applications. Social development sessions cover social development theory, development paradigms, social change, human development, SDGs, and understanding social development. Community development sessions examine community mobilisation, participation, community projects, CBOs, community empowerment, and supporting community-driven development. Project management sessions cover project cycle, proposal writing, log frame, budgeting, implementation, procurement, and managing development projects. Social policy sessions examine social policy, policy analysis, social protection, welfare, safety nets, and developing and analysing social policy. Development economics sessions cover development economics, livelihoods, poverty, inequality, economic growth, and understanding economic aspects of development. Gender and development sessions examine gender mainstreaming, women empowerment, gender analysis, gender equality, and integrating gender in development. Monitoring and evaluation sessions cover M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection, baseline, impact evaluation, and evaluating development programmes. Social research sessions examine social research methods, survey design, qualitative methods, PRA, and conducting social research. Governance sessions cover governance, decentralisation, accountability, participation, institutions, and understanding governance in development. Field placements provide hands-on experience with NGOs, CBOs, government departments, and community development projects. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering social development research methods, study design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from university faculty, NGO leaders, government officials, UNDP advisors, and international development experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's NGO sector, devolution, SDGs, social protection, community development, and international aid create high demand for qualified social development professionals.
Programme offered at multiple public universities including Moi, Chuka, JOOUST, and Maseno, providing accessible and affordable options.
Career opportunities with NGOs, government, county governments, UNDP, World Bank, AfDB, and international development organisations.
Programme addresses Kenya's social development, community development, poverty reduction, gender equality, and governance needs.

Against it

Programme requires social science, development, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
NGO sector can be unstable with project-based funding, affecting job security.
Field placements require access to NGOs, CBOs, and community projects, which may be limited in some areas.
Broad programme covering many topics may lack depth in specific areas compared to specialised programmes.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public120k to 130k

120k at Chuka University130k at Maseno University

Private119k to 700k

119k at Mount Kenya University700k at Strathmore 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

Chuka MA 240,000/2=120,000/yr (fee PDF). Maseno unverified. MKU 119,100. Strathmore 700,000.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNDP supports development capacity building. World Bank supports social development. AfDB supports social development in Africa. The programme's social development focus attracts NGO, UN, and international development funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNDP Development Funding
World Bank Social Development Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate social development studies at recognised universities.
UNDP Development Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
UNDP supports development capacity building in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate research in social development.
World Bank Social Development Funding
FellowshipKsh 400,000
World Bank supports social development globally, providing fellowships and funding for postgraduate study in social development.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from social sciences, development studies, community development, social work, economics, sociology, political science, public administration, education, and related fields. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, project proposals, policy briefs, M&E reports, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering social development, project management, policy, gender, and M&E, conducted at end of each semester.
Field Placement and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of field placements, community projects, NGO attachment, practical reports, and field work.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a social development and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University, Chuka University, and JOOUST offer MA Social Development and Management. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate social development and management training. Ministry of Labour oversees social protection in Kenya, and UNDP and World Bank support social development internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University, Chuka University, and JOOUST offer MA Social Development and Management. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate social development and management training.
National Council for NGOs Kenya
Professional accreditation
NGO Council regulates NGOs in Kenya. Graduates working in NGO management may benefit from knowledge of NGO regulations and compliance.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Social Development Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages social development programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, M&E, and supporting social development.
Programme Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages development programmes, overseeing project cycle, budget, staff, partnerships, and supporting programme delivery.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Supports community development, overseeing community mobilisation, participation, projects, and supporting community-driven development.
NGO Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages NGO operations, overseeing governance, funding, compliance, programmes, and supporting NGO effectiveness.
M&E Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts monitoring and evaluation, overseeing M&E frameworks, data collection, impact evaluation, and supporting programme effectiveness.
Social Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses social policy, overseeing policy research, analysis, advocacy, and supporting social policy development.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as social development managers, programme managers, and community development officers in NGOs, government, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for social research, survey analysis, M&E data, demographic data, and research data analysis.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for social research, interviews, focus groups, coding, and qualitative data analysis.
Microsoft Project
Software
Project management software for development projects, project planning, scheduling, tracking, and managing development projects.
LogFrame
Software
Logical framework approach for project design, planning, M&E, results chain, and designing and managing development projects.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social development is just about charity and helping people.
The programme involves project management, policy analysis, economics, governance, M&E, research, and development theory, covering comprehensive social development and management.
This programme is only for social work graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from social sciences, development studies, economics, community development, and related fields.
There is limited demand for social development professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's NGO sector, devolution, SDGs, social protection, community development, and international aid create high demand for qualified social development professionals.
Social development management is not a real management field.
Social development management involves project management, financial management, human resource management, strategic planning, and governance, making it a rigorous management field.
NGO work is the only career option for social development graduates.
Graduates work in government, county governments, international organisations, CSR departments, research institutions, and consulting, not just NGOs.
A master's in social development is redundant after a sociology degree.
The master's provides management skills, project expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior development and management positions.