The Directorate mandate is to coordinates the formulation, analysis and implementation of Social and Productive sector policies, strategies, programmes and projects in conjunction with line ministries and other stakeholders in a participatory approach. Apart from sectoral co-ordination, the department is also responsible for overseeing project and public expenditure management activities including project appraisal, public expenditure reviews and public expenditure tracking. The Department is also responsible for co-convening 3 Sector Working Groups, which include Social Protection, Culture and Recreation; Health and Environment, Water and Irrigation Sector Working Groups in the MTEF Budgeting process. The department ensures that sectoral data is collected and analyzed for planning purposes as well as maintaining the input-output tables needed to facilitate sectoral growth projections

Towards the fulfillment of the Ministry's mandate and functions as outlined by the Strategic Plan 2008/09-2012/13, SPD contributes significantly towards the following:

•  Strengthening policy formulation and planning;

•  Strengthening Human Resource Management and Development;

•  Strengthening policy and planning aspects of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget,

The above responsibilities are executed through the two divisions and two Units of the Directorate as follows: