The ministry's mandate includes Science Technology Innovation (STI) Policy, Research development, research authorization and coordination of Technical Education (TE). The ministry currently operates with three technical directorates and one SAGA; namely; Directorate of Research Development (DRD), Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) and the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST). Policy priorities include:

• Strengthening the National STI standing and its competitiveness
• Improving the quality, relevance, equity and access to higher education and technical training
• Promoting evidence based policy making and national development
• Encourage private sector participation in STI and technical education
• Enhancing capacity of the national STI system towards demand driven
• STI, quality higher education and technical education services and
• effective use of existing talents and facilities
• Promoting excellence, creativity, innovation and investment in STI, higher education and technical education