The Report of the Ministerial advisory group, A Fresh Start for Gaelic, in May 2002 recommended the creation of a national development agency for the Gaelic language and culture. Established by the Scottish Executive in 2003 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba is responsible for the devising, direction and management of the National Plan for Gaelic, which in turn is intended to ensure a sustainable future for the language. Its approach seeks to influence the thinking and work of public bodies, businesses, voluntary organisations and the community in the promotion of the Gaelic language.

Its aims are:

- To increase the numbers of speakers and users of Gaelic.

- To strengthen Gaelic as a family and community language.

- To facilitate access to Gaelic langauge and culture throughout Scotland

- To promote and celebrate Gaelic’s contribution to Scottish cultural life

- To encourage and support wider use of Gaelic in all aspects of life in Scotland.

The agency's range of work includes educational, promotional, advisory, planning and funding activities, as well as social and economic development. Its main tools are funding programmes and commissioning projects.

In education, the development of Gaelic medium education (GME) since the mid 1980s demonstrated that a new fluent, confident Gaelic-speaking generation could be nurtured. However Bòrd na Gàidhlig is concerned with the need to foster fluency in Gaelic. They work with the Executive, education authorities, teacher education institutions and parents to bring about the required step change in the delivery of Gaelic education and learning, including promoting the growth of Gaelic Medium Education and supporting the production of a range of educational and learning resources and out of school activities.

In the arts, culture and heritage sectors, Bòrd na Gàidhlig works with other NDPBs such as the Scottish Arts Council and other bodies to promote Gaelic arts, culture and heritage. Their work includes partnerships with bodies in education, creative industries, tourism and the community at large. Broadcasting, too, has played a vital role in bringing the whole range of Gaelic culture to a wider audience. Overall Bòrd na Gàidhlig wishes to develop and implement a comprehensive national Gaelic cultural strategy which will enhance the role of Gaelic arts and culture in education, community and economic development (including the professsional development of arts managers and artists).

As the family remains the key vehicle for inter-generational transmission of Gaelic, Bòrd na Gàidhlig works with families and communities to strengthen Gaelic as a family and community language. As rural communities change, Gaelic speakers are creating new social structures to facilitate contact and interaction through the language. Many of these new approaches reflect special interest groups and communication is increasingly on-line. The Bòrd aims to make Gaelic more visible on signage and in the public profile of official bodies and of businesses. Supporting and developing the implementation of public and private sector Gaelic plans and the development and implementation of Gaelic Community Plans are also priorities for the organisation.