Chief of Staff

General Directorate of Chief of Staff

General Directorate  Chief of Staff, as a communication and coordination unit of the Ministry of Finance, has a key role in expediting the effective implementation of policies and realization of determined objectives. GD of Chief of Staff mainly follows up and regularly reports on the implementation of policy measures, programs and other planned activities in the framework of annual plans, analyze performance of the relevant units and maintain efficient communication with the internal departments as well as other government institutions.

Since the GD Chief of Staff plays a strategic and key role in the overall performance of the Ministry of Finance, under the direct supervision and guidance of the H.E the Minister of Finance, a systematic approach has been taken to facilitate and expedite the effective implementation of policies and procedures. The following reform measures have been taken in the framework of organizational structure and initiating working procedures:

First: Fundamentally reforming the organizational structure (Tashkil) of the Directorate General of Chief of Staff considering its key tasks;

Second: The development and implementation of electronic systems that would lead to maintain transparency, and expedite processes and procedures;

Third: Monitoring performance and effective coordination among internal and external agencies based on working relationship;

Fourth: The initiation of capacity building programs by utilizing the available resources;

Fifth: The development of legislative documents and working mechanisms; and

Sixth: The management and coordination of the High Economic Council’s affairs as well as the bilateral economic commissions.

The Office of the Chief of Staff, for years, was in dire need of reforms and was unable to effectively perform its duties and responsibilities as a core unit of the Ministry of Finance. To bring substantial reforms, the organizational structure of the Office of the Chief of Staff was reviewed and restructured by analyzing its main duties and priorities in order to efficiently utilize the available resources. The new structural changes were made based on working relations and establishing effective coordination with the internal and external agencies and development and implementation of new policy measures. By assuming additional responsibilities through the government’s high councils and inter-ministerial commissions, the following directorates have been established as a part of the structural reforms:

1. Coordination and Monitoring Directorate:

 Coordination and Monitoring Directorate, as a dynamic unit, is responsible for coordination among internal and external agencies, follows up the implementation of the Presidential Decrees as well as resolutions pertaining to the Cabinet and High Economic Council. It also manages the affairs of the Office of the Director General Chief of Staff’s Office with other government institutions. 

Furthermore, the Directorate of Coordination and Monitoring ensures the efficient and transparent working processes and procedures in order to achieve the priorities, objectives, national and international commitments of the Ministry of Finance. By utilizing the existing technical capacities, it evaluates the progress being made and reports to the Director General Chief of Staff.  

2. High Economic Council Coordination Directorate:

High Economic Council (HEC) was established through Presidential Decree No. 20 Dated April 1, 2016 to coordinate and facilitate the development of policies measures, economic reform programs and to support and facilitate the domestic and foreign investments opportunities.

This directorate is the Secretariat of the High Economic Council responsible for preparing the agenda, reviewing and analyzing proposals and reports, providing technical advices to the relevant government agencies and the private sector, coordinating between the government institutions and private sector, preparing the resolutions, follow up and reporting the progress being made to the HEC.

3. Bilateral Economic Commissions Directorate:

In addition to the government’s efforts for economic growth, support of investments, bilateral cooperation and implementation of important infrastructure projects, the Directorate of Bilateral Economic Commissions has been established to attract and coordinate essential economic and development projects with countries such as Turkmenistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Azerbaijan and Georgia. As Afghanistan has opened a new chapter of bilateral relations in the framework of bilateral economic commissions, the areas of cooperation include trade, transit, investments, cultural affairs, higher education, health, infrastructure projects and other major economic issues of interest.

Directorate of Bilateral Commissions is responsible for coordinating joint economic and trade commissions in Afghanistan and abroad, implementation of instructions of H.E. the Minister of Finance, organizing and managing meetings of joint economic and trade commissions, holding inter-ministries meetings to finalize protocol drafts, and providing work plans for bilateral economic commission’s meetings to fulfill commitments made in joint commissions.

4.   International Relations Directorate:

The Foreign Affairs Directorate is responsible for coordinating with the diplomatic missions, international trips, national and international events pertaining to the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In addition, it is mandated to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and other donor organizations. This is being done through a systematic approach of enhancing the staff capacity and coordination with the relevant institutions.

This Directorate also contributes and follows up to the bilateral agreements and protocols pertaining to the Ministry of Finance. Thus building sustainable capacity within the Ministry of Finance is of a vital importance, managing and effectively implementing scholarship is one of the main duties of this directorate.

5.  Documentation and Communication Directorate

Documentation and Communication Directorate is responsible for documentation, management of office correspondence, daily dispatch of documents and official letters of the Ministry of Finance.

In addition, archive management such as filing and maintaining executive documents are part of its major tasks.