A Planning Commission is a government body responsible for planning, coordinating and monitoring the development of a state, country, or local government area.
For example, a State Economic and Budget Planning Commission helps the government decide what development projects to undertake, how to allocate resources, and how to monitor the implementation of its development plans.
Main functions of a Planning Commission
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Development planning: Prepares short-term and long-term plans for the state’s development.
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Budget coordination: Works with ministries and government agencies to align their budgets with government priorities.
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Economic planning: Studies the economy and recommends ways to improve growth, employment and investment.
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Project monitoring: Tracks government projects to assess their progress and effectiveness.
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Data collection and research: Collects statistics and information to support government decisions.
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Donor coordination: May coordinate development programmes supported by organisations such as the World Bank and other development partners.