The Minister of Public Works is the overall champion of the EPWP and provides national policy leadership and direction on the design, framework and implementation of the EPWP. Within the Department of Public Works (DPW), the EPWP Branch is responsible for: overall coordinating and implementing support, developing funding frameworks, providing technical support to participating public bodies and monitoring & evaluation.

DPW is the coordinator for both the Infrastructure and Non-State sectors. The Environment and Culture sector is coordinated by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the Social Sector is led by the Department of Social Development (DSD). The sector coordinators provide leadership & authority, coordination & direction, advocacy, risk management, and capacity building for the respective sectors.

At the provincial government level, Members of the Executive Council (MECs) for Public Works provide provincial leadership and direction on the Programme. Each province has a dedicated EPWP Unit established within the Provincial Departments of Public Works that are instrumental in mobilising other provincial departments as well as municipalities within the province to perform in accordance with the objectives of the EPWP.