The role of the Department of Planning and Information is to coordinate planning, budgeting, inter-department programmes and projects in order to ensure their effective implementation.  It will also coordinate the formulation and review of relevant policies and legislation in order to provide appropriate guidance as well as coordinate the budgeting process in the Ministry.  It is  responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective Information System on the programmes of the Ministry and Local Authorities in order to facilitate informed decision-making.

In order to effectively and efficiently execute its mandate, the Department of Planning and Information  has the following specific functions:-

• Coordinate planning , implementation and review of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan;
• Coordinate the preparation of annual budgets and budget performance analysis reports in consultation with all departments;
• Develop and operationalise a coordination mechanism in the Ministry in order to facilitate information exchange and decision making;
• Develop and maintain an information system that will support policy analysis, performance assessment, decision making and provide relevant information to government and stakeholders;
• Coordinate all Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) activities in the Ministry including technical support of office equipment;
• Mainstream cross-cutting issues such as gender, HIV/AIDS, poverty alleviation etc. into Ministerial programmes in order to ensure equity and overall inclusion;
• Coordinate the formulation and review of Ministerial polices; and Coordinate Parliamentary Business in the Ministry