About the National Planning Council
The National Planning Council is one of the most important government
agencies. It is entrusted with formulating and refining national development
visions, strategies and plans, and overseeing their implementation
post-approval. The Council's General Secretariat encompasses a National
Statistical Center that aims to establish a holistic statistical system for
Qatar, serving as the only source for official statistics in the country,
given that official statistics form the basis of economic, social and
environmental development for all societies.
The State of Qatar was proactive in paying attention to planning and
statistics. In 1980, Decree-Law No. 12 of 1980 was issued establishing the
Central Statistics Authority.
In 1998, Emiri Decision No. 1 of 1998 was issued establishing the Planning
Council.
In 1999, Decree-Law No. 17 of 1999 was issued abolishing the Central
Statistics Authority and devolving its purviews to the General Secretariat
of the Planning Council.
In 2006, Emiri Decision No. (39) of 2006 was issued establishing the General
Secretariat for Development Planning.
In 2007, Emiri Decision No. (25) of 2007 was issued establishing the
Statistics Authority.
In 2008, Emiri Decision No. (44) of 2008 was issued adopting the
Comprehensive Developmental Vision (Qatar National Vision 2030), which aims
to achieve progress and prosperity for citizens and transform Qatar into an
advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development and securing a
decent life for its people for generations to come.
The National Vision sets up the characteristics of the future
and outlines five major challenges, namely:
- Modernization with the preservation of traditions.
- The needs of the current generation and the needs of future
generations.
- Targeted growth and uncontrolled expansion.
- Development path and the size and quality of targeted expatriate
labor force.
- Economic growth, social development and environmental management.
Also, the Vision embodies the most important guiding
principles, namely:
- Safeguarding public and personal freedoms.
- Protecting moral and religious values and traditions.
- Ensuring security, stability and equal opportunities.
The National Vision foresees development prospects through the
following four interconnected pillars:
-
Human Development:
Developing the population of Qatar so that they can
build a prosperous society.
-
Social Development:
Developing a safe and just society founded on high moral
standards and social welfare, capable of interacting with
different societies and playing a significant role in global
partnerships for development.
-
Economic Development:
Developing a diversified and competitive national
economy capable of meeting the needs of citizens at present and
in the future and securing a high standard of living.
-
Environmental
Development: Managing the environment such that
there is harmony and balance between socioeconomic development
and environmental protection.
To achieve this vision, the State of Qatar has begun to develop successive
National Development Strategies.
In 2009, Emiri Decision No. (50) of 2009 was issued organizing the General
Secretariat for Development Planning.
In 2009, Emiri Decision No. (52) of 2009 was issued organizing the Statistics
Authority.
In 2011, Law No. (2) of 2011 on Official Statistics was issued. Under the
provisions thereof, the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official
Statistics became a law applicable in the State of Qatar. The law included
provisions on means of conducting the General Census of Population, Housing
and Establishments, methods of carrying out censuses and various surveys and
their periodicity, how to collect official statistical data, and the role of
various government and private entities, households and individuals in
statistical processes. Furthermore, the law prescribed that the Authority
should establish the Statistics Advisory Committee, and that it should
develop a mechanism for selecting those involved in the fieldwork to ensure
accuracy and quality in the collection and analysis of statistical data.
Besides, it stressed the importance of confidentiality of personal data and
information and gave the Authority the force of law in order to achieve the
objectives and work entrusted thereto.
In 2014, Emiri Decision No. (16) of 2014 was issued designating the
competencies of the ministries. Article (15) thereof stipulated that the
Ministry of Planning and Statistics is competent of setting and developing
the overall vision of the State, in cooperation with the relevant
authorities; preparing national development strategies; following up on
their implementation, in coordination with the concerned authorities;
preparing studies related to these strategies and to population policies;
supporting the planning process in government agencies; establishing the
necessary link between the development priorities and the State's general
budget; and monitoring the progress of implementation of plans. It is also
mandated to establish an integrated statistical system; conduct, organize
and supervise formal statistical processes; implement various censuses and
surveys; and disseminate statistical data and products. In 2014, Emiri
Decision No. (28) of 2014 was issued on the organizational structure of the
Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.
In 2018, Emiri Decision No. (70) of 2018 was issued to establish the Planning
and Statistics Authority.
In 2024, Emiri Decision No. (13) of 2024 was issued establishing the National
Planning Council. Article (4) thereof stipulates that "The Council shall be
formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, with the membership of
a Deputy Chairman and a number of members appointed by an Emiri decision
upon the proposal of the Chairman. The Council shall have a secretary, whose
appointment, competences and remuneration shall be determined by a decision
of the Chairman upon the proposal of the Secretary-General."
Also, Article (5) of the Decision stipulates that the Council
shall exercise the following competencies and powers:
- Ensure the realization of the goals and objectives of Qatar National
Vision 2030.
- Oversee the execution of the Third National Development Strategy
2024-2030.
- Draft the comprehensive development vision subsequent to the Qatar
National Vision 2030, in coordination with the relevant authorities,
and supervise its implementation after being approved by the Emir.
- Develop draft national development strategies, scrutinize associated
executive plans in coordination with pertinent authorities, while
exploring the views of the private sector and relevant civil society
organizations, and supervise their implementation after being
approved by the Emir or the Council of Ministers, as the case may
be.
- Develop draft economic development and diversification strategies
and associated executive plans to bolster Qatar's competitiveness,
in coordination with the concerned authorities, and supervise their
implementation after being approved by the Emir or the Council of
Ministers, as the case may be.
- Regularly develop, review and update development policies in a way
that aligns with national directives and priorities and achieves
Qatar National Vision, in coordination with the relevant
authorities.
- Detect contradictions or inconsistencies among stakeholders in
implementing development policies and plans, devise solutions and
take appropriate actions to ensure their consistency in achieving
national priorities.
- Provide technical support to the concerned bodies in crafting their
strategic and executive plans related to national development
strategies.
- Approve draft strategic and executive plans developed by government
agencies; emanating from the implementation of their competencies,
the exercise of their activities, direct instructions and
assignments and the initiatives proposed by those agencies, each
within their respective mandates.
- Supervise the creation and configuration of an integrated automated
system to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the
National Development Strategy and other strategies and pertinent
executive plans of government agencies and concerned authorities.
- Evaluate the progress made in the concerned authorities'
implementation of their respective executive plans and other
strategic and executive plans. This shall be achieved through
periodic follow-up reports prepared by each entity, including the
status of implementation, the challenges, the appropriate solutions
to such challenges, and the appropriate decision thereon.
- Spot future trends in various sectors, analyze their long- and
medium-term effects on development plans, and propose requisite
changes to position Qatar as a leader and pioneer in pertinent
fields.
- Keep abreast of global and regional developments in areas related to
Qatar National Vision and national development strategies along with
the latest developments that may be directly reflected on the
implementation of plans, while conducting the necessary studies and
research to know the effects of such developments on the
implementation of plans, in coordination with the relevant
authorities.
- Endorse draft proactive plans and risk management frameworks to
ensure ministries and government agencies' readiness for the future
and to guarantee their alignment and preparedness for the
forthcoming changes and developments.
- Prepare research and studies related to Qatar National Vision and
national development strategies, in coordination with the relevant
authorities.
- Strengthen regional and international cooperation with entities
interested in sustainable development and foresight.
- Support ministries and government agencies to face and absorb future
developments and ensure their readiness to cope with these
developments.
- Oversee the establishment of a comprehensive data platform for all
economic, social, human, environmental indicators and priority
sectors.
Article (10) thereof stipulates that "the Council shall have a General
Secretariat, headed by a Secretary-General with the rank of minister, whose
appointment shall be made by virtue of an Emiri decision upon the proposal
of the Chairman. By a decision of the Chairman, one or more Deputy or
Assistant Secretary-General may be appointed, and their competencies shall
be determined thereupon."
Article (11) thereof stipulates that: "The Secretary-General, within the
general policy set by the Council and under the supervision of the Chairman,
shall manage the administrative, financial and technical aspects of the
Council and take whatever actions he deems appropriate to achieve its
objectives, as per the laws, bylaws and regulations established and within
the limits of the approved annual budget. The Chairman, in particular, may:
- Propose the Council's strategic plans and general policy and oversee
their implementation after being approved by the Council.
- Propose the Council's plans, programs and projects, and follow up on
their implementation after being approved by the Council.
- Propose the organizational structure of the Council.
- Prepare the Council's draft estimated budget and final account and
submit them to the Council for approval.
- Communicate and clarify Qatar National Vision 2030 and national
development strategies to government agencies, the private sector
and civil society organizations.
- Prepare studies and make recommendations on the work presented to
the Council and other topics assigned to him by the Council or the
Chairman, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
- Prepare the agenda for the Council's meetings, in coordination with
the concerned authorities, and submit it to the Chairman for
approval, well in advance of the meeting.
- Monitor the implementation of the decisions of the Council and the
Chairman, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
- Oversee the proper functioning of the Council and the General
Secretariat.
- Propose legislation related to the Council's work.
- Perform any other work or tasks assigned to him by the Chairman.
The Secretary-General may delegate some of his powers to his deputies or
assistants or to the occupants of executive posts in the Secretariat.
Article (13) of the Decision stipulates that "a center called the National
Statistics Centre shall be established within the General Secretariat with
the aim of establishing a comprehensive statistical system for the State.
The Centre shall serve as the official source of official statistics in the
State."
Article (14) thereof stipulates that " For the purpose of
achieving its objectives, the Centre may:
- Prepare the draft national statistics and data strategy, develop
policies and plans necessary to meet the statistical needs in the
country, present them to the Secretary-General, and follow up on
their implementation after being approved by the Council.
- Carry out statistical processes and share their results with users
in multiple forms at specific periodicities.
- Develop and update the programs and activities necessary for the
implementation of censuses, surveys, and statistical studies and
research, while prioritizing them according to the approved
statistical strategies, policies and plans.
- Design and implement an automated system for building the
statistical database, i.e. to build and develop an integrated
central database that meets the national needs for statistical
information and data efficiently and with a high degree of
reliability.
- Collect, classify, tabulate, store and retain statistical
information, and disseminate the results of statistical processes.
- Issue statistical bulletins periodically, or whenever the need
arises.
- Prepare statistical data, in accordance with the strategies,
policies and plans in force, and present them to the Council for
approval.
- Develop and issue manuals and guidelines in collecting and
classifying statistical data as per their definitions and uses,
while unifying statistical standards and concepts in line with
international standards.
- Keep abreast of developments in statistical fields and apply the
latest statistical approaches and methods.
- Link qualitative and quantitative statistical processes to the
developmental goals of the Qatar National Vision and national
development strategies.
