The ambit of the DNP was established by Decree 3517 of 2009, as follows:
To propose macroeconomic and financial objectives and strategies, consistent with the policies and plans of the National Government, consistent with projections of scenarios in the short-, medium- and long- terms.
To co-ordinate the formulation of the National Development Plan and submit it for evaluation to the National Planning Council, the National Council on Political Economy, CONPES in order that it may then be presented to the Congress of the Republic. Additionally, the DNP will co-ordinate its execution, monitor it and evulate the management and results of the said plan.
To develop the planning directions given by the President of the republic and to co-ordinate the National Development Plan with ministries, administrative departments and regional bodies.
To give approval to methodologies for designing, monitoring and evaluating the policies, programs and projects contained in the National Development Plan, as well as as the methodologies for identifying, formulating, and evaluating projects financed with state money.
To co-ordinate with all of the bodies and public organizations to guarantee the due fulfilment and execution of policies, programs and projects contained in the national development plan.
To direct and co-ordinate the realization of policies governing public investment and to guarantee that these are consistent with the the Public Investment Plan.
To ensure that the budget is correctly scheduled, a process to be carried out based on result-monitoring.
To promote, develop and co-ordinate studies and investigations pertinent to the modernization and technical improvement of the ‘macro-structure’ of the state, in concert with the Administrative Department of the Public Function.
To develop long-term plans for the organization of the State, for regional planning and to development environmental policies and foster sustainable development.
To craft and organize policies pertaining to the mechanisms for evaluating management and the results of public administration, in those matters concerning policy as well as investment projects. In all casses, the National Planning Department will be able to conduct the said evaluation, selectively, of any regional entity.
To promulgate the results of the annual evualation of bodies, of the National Development Pan and the evaluations of the impact of public policies.
To supply the President of the Republic with period information, and any additional information that he might require, about the status of public investment, the fulfilment of development plans and to assess these same in order to produce the annual report, which must be presented to te Congress of the Republic.
To participate in the management of internal and external financing related to plans, programs and projects for economic and social development. To support public organizations and bodies in the preparation and presentation of projects that may be financed with internal or external credit and to participate in the relevant negotiations.
To study and evaluate the state and extent of the external public and private debt, and to propose to the National Council on Economic and Social Policy, CONPES, the measures necessary to ensure the fulfilment of the National Development Plan without overextending the nation’s capacity for indebtedness.
To design, regulate, systematize and operate the National Programs and Projects Investment Bank, BPIN, which will include those projects that may be financed totally or partially with the resources of the National Budget.
To regulate the system of decentralized registration of Programs and Projects, and assess its viability, in co-ordination with the Ministry of the Treasury and Public Credit.
To prioritize the programs and plans of the Annual Operational Investment Plan (POAI), consistent with the objectives and goals of the National Development Plan in order that they may be included in the Annual Budgetary Law, ensuring that this is done with reference to the results of evaluations past.
To keep track of those projects that have been declared viable by the respective ministries, in order that they may be financed with resources of the National Royalties Fund and to recommend the priority with which funds should be assigned to these projects.
To support the relevant organizations and bodies with policies, plans, programs and projects pertaining to the stimulation of productivity, private investment, competitivity and the holistic attention given to internally displaced persons, in concert with the Ministries and the Administrative Departments.
To participate in the evaluation of private investment projects, be they national or international, that will require the participation of the National Government.
To exercise the functions apportioned to the National Planning Department in the scheme of the General Ordering of Interests in conformity with prevailing legal norms.
To create instruments for the diffusion of methods and results of the monitoring and evaluation of the programs and policies mandated by the National Development Plan.
To co-ordinate, design, approve and apply the methods for monitoring and applying of an all-embracing system for the permanent evaluation of decentralization, of public regional management and regional order with particular reference to those aspects referred to in Law 617 of 2000, 715 of 2001, 1176 of 2007 and any other laws which modify, amend or abrogate the aforementioned laws.
To propose the creation of new departments and municipalities, as necessary, and consistent with applicable rules.
To promote the undertaking of those activities that will strengthen processes of decentralization and modernization of public management, as well as the strengthening of processes of public, regional planning and management.
To participate in craftting policy for providing domestic utilities, by means of the Regulation Commissions, and to promote the adoption of such policy by public enterprises.
To keep abreast of general policies and to develop strategies of control and oversight, in order to ensure that domestic utilities are offered in a manner that is both adequate and efficient.
To direct and formulate plans, programs and projects undertakebn by those bodies attached to or connected to the Department.
To participate in crafting, monitoring and evaluating policy for the development of science, technology and innovation.
To control and oversee either directly or by contracting third parties, the correct utilization of monies derived from the exploitation of non-renewable natural resourcesor in the possession of the State and to take the necessary corrective measures in those cases where it is determined that the said monies are being misused.
To direct, co-ordinate and realize the policies of investment stipulated by the National Royalties Fund, in conformity with the prescriptions of the Constitution and the Law.
To design methods with which to assess the viability of projects that are to be financed with monies paid as royalties or compensation.