Social Sciences

Master of Science in Innovation and Sustainable Development

The Master of Science in Innovation and Sustainable Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in sustainable innovation, development planning, and environmental management. The programme combines sustainability theory with practical innovation and development application.

Core areas include sustainable development principles, innovation management, environmental governance, climate change, community innovation, green economy, sustainable urban planning, natural resource management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both sustainability theory and practical development and innovation work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the Faculty of Agriculture, and JKUAT through its sustainability-related engineering programmes. UoN offers MSc in Sustainable Urban Development and MSc in Sustainable Management and Operations, while JKUAT offers MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering. Both are public universities offering programmes over two academic years.

Students develop competencies in sustainable development principles, innovation management, environmental governance, climate change, community innovation, green economy, sustainable urban planning, and natural resource management. The programme includes coursework, examinations, fieldwork, project development, and a supervised research thesis.

UoN charges approximately KES 433,500/year (KES 867,000 total) for sustainable urban development and environmental governance programmes. JKUAT charges approximately KES 181,000/year (KES 362,000 total) for sustainable energy engineering. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in environmental studies, geography, agriculture, economics, engineering, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as sustainability consultants, innovation managers, development planners, environmental governance specialists, green economy analysts, and lecturers in sustainable development across government agencies, NGOs, international organisations, consulting firms, and universities.

Skills Required

Sustainable Development Principles and Frameworks
Innovation Management and Technology Transfer
Environmental Governance and Policy Analysis
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Green Economy and Cleaner Production
Sustainable Urban Planning and Development
Community Innovation and Project Development
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Research Methods in Sustainable Development
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Sustainable Development Principles and Frameworks
Innovation Management and Technology Transfer
Environmental Governance and Policy Analysis
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Green Economy and Cleaner Production
Sustainable Urban Planning and Development
Community Innovation and Project Development
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Research Methods in Sustainable Development
Thesis Research

Certifications

UN SDG Professional Certification
UNEP Sustainability Professional Membership

Specializations

Sustainable Urban Development

Focuses on sustainable urban development, covering urban planning, green cities, sustainable infrastructure, transport, and managing urban sustainability.

Green Economy

Examines green economy, covering cleaner production, circular economy, green business, renewable energy, and managing green economy.

Environmental Governance

Covers environmental governance, covering policy, regulation, institutions, compliance, environmental law, and managing environmental governance.

Climate Change and Sustainability

Focuses on climate change, covering adaptation, mitigation, climate policy, resilience, carbon management, and managing climate sustainability.

Community Innovation

Examines community innovation, covering community development, participatory innovation, social innovation, grassroots solutions, and managing community innovation.

Sustainable Agriculture

Covers sustainable agriculture, covering agroecology, sustainable farming, food security, value chains, and managing sustainable agriculture.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 353,500
Job market: Moderate

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: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Sustainable Development Principles and Frameworks
Innovation Management and Technology Transfer
Environmental Governance and Policy Analysis
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Green Economy and Cleaner Production
Sustainable Urban Planning and Development
Community Innovation and Project Development
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Research Methods in Sustainable Development
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Sustainable Development Principles and Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines SDGs, sustainability frameworks, economic growth, environmental protection, social equity, and managing sustainable development.
Innovation Management and Technology Transfer
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers innovation processes, technology transfer, R&D, social innovation, open innovation, and managing innovation for sustainability.
Research Methods in Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, sustainability assessment, and conducting sustainable development research, preparing students for their thesis.
Environmental Governance and Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines policy, regulation, institutions, compliance, environmental law, and managing environmental governance.
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers adaptation, mitigation, climate policy, resilience, carbon management, and managing climate sustainability.
Green Economy and Cleaner Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cleaner production, circular economy, green business, renewable energy, green finance, and managing green economy.
Sustainable Urban Planning and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers urban development, green cities, sustainable infrastructure, transport, housing, and managing urban sustainability.
Community Innovation and Project Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines community development, participatory innovation, grassroots solutions, social innovation, project design, and managing community innovation.
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers conservation, resource management, biodiversity, ecosystem services, community-based natural resource management, and managing natural resources.
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agroecology, sustainable farming, food security, value chains, agricultural innovation, and managing sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable Business and Corporate Social Responsibility
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sustainable business models, CSR, ESG, sustainable supply chains, impact assessment, and managing sustainable business.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an innovation and sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and sustainability knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Sustainable Urban Development
Focuses on sustainable urban development, covering urban planning, green cities, sustainable infrastructure, transport, and managing urban sustainability.
Green Economy
Examines green economy, covering cleaner production, circular economy, green business, renewable energy, and managing green economy.
Environmental Governance
Covers environmental governance, covering policy, regulation, institutions, compliance, environmental law, and managing environmental governance.
Climate Change and Sustainability
Focuses on climate change, covering adaptation, mitigation, climate policy, resilience, carbon management, and managing climate sustainability.
Community Innovation
Examines community innovation, covering community development, participatory innovation, social innovation, grassroots solutions, and managing community innovation.
Sustainable Agriculture
Covers sustainable agriculture, covering agroecology, sustainable farming, food security, value chains, and managing sustainable agriculture.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Innovation and Sustainable Development programme combines lectures, case study discussions, fieldwork, project workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover sustainable development, innovation management, environmental governance, and climate change. Sustainable development sessions examine SDGs, sustainability frameworks, economic growth, environmental protection, social equity, and managing sustainable development. Innovation management sessions cover innovation processes, technology transfer, R&D, social innovation, and managing innovation for sustainability. Environmental governance sessions cover policy, regulation, institutions, compliance, environmental law, and managing environmental governance. Climate change sessions cover adaptation, mitigation, climate policy, resilience, carbon management, and managing climate sustainability. Green economy sessions cover cleaner production, circular economy, green business, renewable energy, and managing green economy. Sustainable urban planning sessions cover urban development, green cities, sustainable infrastructure, transport, housing, and managing urban sustainability. Community innovation sessions cover community development, participatory innovation, grassroots solutions, social innovation, and managing community innovation. Natural resource management sessions cover conservation, resource management, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and managing natural resources. Project development sessions cover project design, planning, management, monitoring, evaluation, and managing sustainable projects. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case study discussions provide opportunities for analysing real sustainability challenges, innovation successes and failures, and development projects. Fieldwork provides exposure to sustainable development projects, green businesses, and community innovations. Project workshops provide hands-on experience with project design, sustainability assessment, and development planning. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in sustainable development. Guest lectures from experienced sustainability professionals, development practitioners, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an innovation and sustainable development topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for sustainability professionals with Kenya's Vision 2030, SDG commitments, climate action, green economy transition, and urban development.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 181,000/year (KES 362,000 total) for sustainable energy engineering.
Programme aligns with global SDGs and Kenya's development agenda, providing relevant and timely skills.
UNEP headquarters in Nairobi provides unique networking, internship, and career opportunities for sustainability professionals.

Against it

No standalone MSc in Innovation and Sustainable Development confirmed; covered within broader sustainability programmes at UoN and JKUAT.
UoN fees are higher at approximately KES 433,500/year (KES 867,000 total) for sustainability programmes.
Only two public universities confirmed offering related programmes, limiting institutional choice.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.

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

Public179k to 354k

179k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology354k at University of Nairobi

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

UoN MSc Entrepreneurship 707K/2yr~~353K/yr. JKUAT 357K/2yr~~178.5K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: uonbi, jkuat

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNEP and UN organisations may provide fellowships for sustainability professionals. JKUAT may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. Some NGOs and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNEP Fellowships
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UNEP Fellowships
FellowshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
UNEP and UN organisations may provide fellowships for sustainability and environmental professionals.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible 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 environmental studies, geography, agriculture, economics, engineering, or related fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Pass degree holders with a postgraduate diploma in a related field may also be 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, case study analyses, fieldwork reports, project reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering sustainable development, innovation management, environmental governance, and climate change.
Project and Fieldwork Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through project development, sustainability assessment, fieldwork, case studies, and demonstrating sustainable development skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an innovation and sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and sustainability knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, Sustainable Management and Operations, Environmental Governance, or Sustainable Energy Engineering, which cover innovation and sustainable development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in sustainable development. Graduates are eligible for UN SDG professional certification and UNEP sustainability professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, Sustainable Management and Operations, Environmental Governance, or Sustainable Energy Engineering, which cover innovation and sustainable development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in sustainable development. Graduates are eligible for UN SDG professional certification and UNEP sustainability professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Sustainability Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides sustainability consulting, overseeing assessment, strategy, reporting, advisory, and managing sustainability consulting.
Innovation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages innovation programmes, overseeing innovation processes, R&D, commercialisation, and managing innovation for sustainability.
Development Planner
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Plans development programmes, overseeing project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and managing development planning.
Environmental Governance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Specialises in environmental governance, overseeing policy, regulation, compliance, and managing environmental governance.
Green Economy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses green economy opportunities, overseeing assessment, modelling, policy, investment, and managing green economy analysis.
Sustainable Development Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches sustainable development at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS
SoftwarePrimary
GIS for spatial analysis, covering land use, urban planning, environmental mapping, and managing spatial sustainability data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, sustainability indicators, research data, and managing statistical analysis.
Sustainability Reporting Tools
Software
GRI sustainability reporting tools, covering ESG reporting, sustainability metrics, disclosure, and managing sustainability reporting.
Excel
Software
Excel for data analysis, covering project planning, budgeting, sustainability indicators, and managing development data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sustainable development is just about environmental conservation.
Sustainable development covers comprehensive economic growth, social equity, environmental protection, innovation, governance, and policy beyond just conservation.
This programme is only for environmentalists.
Sustainable development skills are valuable for economists, planners, business managers, engineers, social scientists, and policy makers beyond just environmentalists.
Sustainable development has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With Kenya's Vision 2030, SDG commitments, climate action, green economy transition, and urban development, demand for sustainability professionals is growing in Kenya.
Innovation is just about technology.
Innovation covers comprehensive social innovation, business model innovation, process innovation, community innovation, and policy innovation beyond just technology.
Green economy is just about renewable energy.
Green economy covers comprehensive cleaner production, circular economy, green business, sustainable agriculture, green finance, and low-carbon development.
Community innovation is just about community projects.
Community innovation covers comprehensive participatory development, grassroots solutions, social innovation, capacity building, and community empowerment.