What is MIDEPLAN?

Costa Rica takes its first steps towards the national planning process in 1963, when through Law No. 3087 it creates the Office of Planning (OFIPLAN) as a direct dependency of the Presidency of the Republic, in charge of coordinating the planning action of the State, the preparation and promotion of policies and the definition of actions in search of greater efficiency in the services provided by the Public Administration, with the aim of guiding national development.

As the OFIPLAN was positioned in the institutional structure of the country and its capacities for coordination and definition of strategic policies were strengthened, it also saw the need to expand its competences and areas of action, so that ten years later, Law N . ° 5525 "National Planning Law" that converts OFIPLAN into the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN).

Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy

MIDEPLAN, therefore, becomes the advisory and technical support body of the Presidency of the Republic and is responsible for formulating, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the Government's strategies and priorities; that is, it defines the medium and long-term vision and goals that inspire the actions of the Executive.

Some of the main functions of the Ministry are: Define a country development strategy that includes medium and long-term goals.

• Prepare the National Development Plan, which should translate the Government's strategy into priorities, policies, programs and actions.
• Coordinate, evaluate and follow up on those actions, programs and policies.
• Maintain an updated and prospective diagnosis of the evolution of national development, as a vital input to strengthen the decision-making processes and evaluate the impact of government programs and actions.
• Promote a permanent evaluation and renewal of the services provided by the State (modernization of the Public Administration).
• Ensure the application of government priorities in budget allocation, public investment and international cooperation.