Business

Master of Science in Community Resource Management

The Master of Science in Community Resource Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in community development, resource management, and extension services. The programme combines community development theory with practical resource management, project planning, and extension application.

Core areas include community resource management, community development, project planning and management, family and consumer sciences, extension methods, gender and development, entrepreneurship, monitoring and evaluation, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both community development theory and practical field and community work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through the School of Health Sciences at KES 326,400/year, Egerton University as MSc in Community Studies and Extension through the Faculty of Education and Community Studies, and the University of Nairobi as MSc in Dryland Resource Management through the Department of Land Resource Management. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time, part-time, and school-based modes of study.

Students develop competencies in community resource management, community development, project planning and management, family and consumer sciences, extension methods, gender and development, entrepreneurship, and monitoring and evaluation. The programme includes coursework, examinations, fieldwork, community practicum, and a supervised research thesis.

KU charges KES 326,400/year (KES 652,800 total) for community resource management. Egerton charges approximately KES 151,150/year for community studies and extension. UoN charges approximately KES 434,000/year for dryland resource management. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in community resource management, family and consumer sciences, home economics, agriculture, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as community development specialists, project managers, extension officers, resource management consultants, gender and development specialists, and lecturers in community resource management across NGOs, government agencies, community organisations, international development organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Community Resource Management and Planning
Community Development and Social Mobilisation
Project Planning, Implementation and Management
Extension Methods and Community Outreach
Gender and Development Analysis
Family and Consumer Sciences
Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Development
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects
Research Methods in Community Studies
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Community Resource Management and Planning
Community Development and Social Mobilisation
Project Planning, Implementation and Management
Extension Methods and Community Outreach
Gender and Development Analysis
Family and Consumer Sciences
Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Development
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects
Research Methods in Community Studies
Thesis Research

Certifications

Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) Membership
International Association for Community Development (IACD) Membership

Specializations

Community Development

Focuses on community development, covering social mobilisation, participatory development, community empowerment, and managing community development.

Project Planning and Management

Examines project planning, covering project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing development projects.

Extension and Outreach

Covers extension methods, covering community outreach, extension communication, technology transfer, and managing extension services.

Gender and Development

Focuses on gender and development, covering gender analysis, mainstreaming, women empowerment, and managing gender-responsive development.

Family and Consumer Sciences

Examines family and consumer sciences, covering family resource management, consumer education, family welfare, and managing family resources.

Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods

Covers entrepreneurship and livelihoods, covering enterprise development, microfinance, value chains, and managing livelihood programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Community Resource Management and Planning
Community Development and Social Mobilisation
Project Planning, Implementation and Management
Extension Methods and Community Outreach
Gender and Development Analysis
Family and Consumer Sciences
Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Development
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects
Research Methods in Community Studies
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Community Resource Management and Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines resource assessment, allocation, planning, sustainability, and managing community resources.
Community Development and Social Mobilisation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers social mobilisation, participatory development, community empowerment, capacity building, and managing community development.
Research Methods in Community Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, participatory research, and conducting community research, preparing students for their thesis.
Project Planning, Implementation and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, financial management, and managing development projects.
Extension Methods and Community Outreach
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers community outreach, extension communication, technology transfer, and managing extension services.
Gender and Development Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines gender analysis, mainstreaming, women empowerment, gender equality, and managing gender-responsive development.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers family resource management, consumer education, family welfare, and managing family resources.
Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines enterprise development, microfinance, value chains, livelihood diversification, and managing livelihood programmes.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers M and E frameworks, indicators, data collection, impact assessment, and managing project evaluation.
Community Health and Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines community health, nutrition, public health, sanitation, and managing community health programmes.
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers natural resource management, conservation, environmental sustainability, community-based natural resource management, and managing natural resources.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a community resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and community development knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Community Development
Focuses on community development, covering social mobilisation, participatory development, community empowerment, and managing community development.
Project Planning and Management
Examines project planning, covering project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing development projects.
Extension and Outreach
Covers extension methods, covering community outreach, extension communication, technology transfer, and managing extension services.
Gender and Development
Focuses on gender and development, covering gender analysis, mainstreaming, women empowerment, and managing gender-responsive development.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Examines family and consumer sciences, covering family resource management, consumer education, family welfare, and managing family resources.
Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods
Covers entrepreneurship and livelihoods, covering enterprise development, microfinance, value chains, and managing livelihood programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Community Resource Management programme combines lectures, fieldwork, community practicum, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover community resource management, community development, project planning, and extension methods. Community resource management sessions examine resource assessment, allocation, planning, sustainability, and managing community resources. Community development sessions cover social mobilisation, participatory development, community empowerment, capacity building, and managing community development. Project planning sessions cover project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing development projects. Extension methods sessions cover community outreach, extension communication, technology transfer, and managing extension services. Gender and development sessions cover gender analysis, mainstreaming, women empowerment, and managing gender-responsive development. Family and consumer sciences sessions cover family resource management, consumer education, family welfare, and managing family resources. Entrepreneurship sessions cover enterprise development, microfinance, value chains, and managing livelihood programmes. Monitoring and evaluation sessions cover M and E frameworks, indicators, data collection, impact assessment, and managing project evaluation. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Fieldwork provides exposure to community development projects, resource management initiatives, and extension programmes. Community practicum provides hands-on experience with community organisations, NGOs, and development agencies. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with project design, community assessment, and participatory planning. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in community development. Guest lectures from experienced community development practitioners, NGO leaders, and government officials provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a community resource management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Steady demand for community development professionals with Kenya's devolution, NGO sector growth, and donor-funded projects.
Programme offered by three public universities (KU, Egerton, UoN), providing institutional choice.
Egerton offers competitive fees at approximately KES 151,150/year for community studies and extension.
KU offers full-time, part-time, and school-based modes, providing flexibility for working professionals.

Against it

UoN dryland resource management fees are higher at approximately KES 434,000/year (KES 868,000 total).
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires community resource management, family and consumer sciences, home economics, or related background, which may limit access for non-related graduates.
Community development funding is often project-based, which may lead to job insecurity.

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

Public169k to 326k

169k at Egerton University326k at Kenyatta 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

KU 326,400/yr (ku.ac.ke), Egerton ~168,650/yr (Egerton PDF). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNDP and development organisations may provide support for community development professionals. Egerton University may offer bursaries for eligible students. Some NGOs and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNDP Kenya Development Support
Egerton University Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UNDP Kenya Development Support
FellowshipKsh 250,000Kenyan
UNDP and development organisations may provide support for community development professionals.
Egerton University Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Egerton University offers bursaries for eligible postgraduate students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in community resource management, family and consumer sciences, home economics, agriculture, or related fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, fieldwork reports, community practicum reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering community resource management, community development, project planning, and extension methods.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through community practicum, fieldwork, project design, community assessment, and demonstrating community development skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a community resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and community development knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and the University of Nairobi (all public) offer MSc in Community Resource Management, Community Studies and Extension, or Dryland Resource Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in community resource management. Graduates are eligible for KIM membership and IACD professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and the University of Nairobi (all public) offer MSc in Community Resource Management, Community Studies and Extension, or Dryland Resource Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in community resource management. Graduates are eligible for KIM membership and IACD professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Community Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages community development programmes, overseeing social mobilisation, capacity building, and managing community development.
Project Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages development projects, overseeing design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing development projects.
Extension Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides extension services, overseeing community outreach, technology transfer, and managing extension programmes.
Resource Management Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides consulting on resource management, overseeing assessment, planning, advisory, and managing resource management consulting.
Gender and Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages gender programmes, overseeing gender analysis, mainstreaming, advocacy, and managing gender-responsive development.
Community Resource Management Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches community resource management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, community data, research data, and managing statistical analysis.
Logical Framework Approach
Methodology
Logical Framework Approach for project planning, covering project design, logframes, indicators, and managing project planning.
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
Methodology
PRA tools for community assessment, covering community mapping, wealth ranking, seasonal calendars, and managing participatory assessment.
Excel
Software
Excel for project management, covering budgets, M and E data, work plans, and managing project data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Community resource management is just about helping communities.
Community resource management covers comprehensive resource assessment, planning, project management, extension, gender, entrepreneurship, and evaluation beyond just helping communities.
This programme is only for social workers.
Community resource management skills are valuable for project managers, extension officers, development consultants, researchers, educators, and policy makers beyond just social workers.
Community development has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With Kenya's devolution, community development, NGO sector growth, and donor-funded projects, demand for community development professionals is steady in Kenya.
Extension is just about giving advice to farmers.
Extension covers comprehensive community outreach, communication, technology transfer, capacity building, and participatory approaches.
Gender and development is just about women's issues.
Gender and development covers comprehensive gender analysis, mainstreaming, men's engagement, gender equality, and social inclusion.
Project planning is just about writing proposals.
Project planning covers comprehensive project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, financial management, and stakeholder engagement.