Long-term development planning: a foundation for achieving the sustainable development goals in Africa

Abstract

Long-term comprehensive development frameworks or visions, at both the international and national levels, are crucial for inclusive and sustainable development and transformation. From the Millennium Development Goals to their successor global development framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, and regional development frameworks such as Africa’s Agenda 2063 and national development visions, long-term planning provides the framework for designing medium term strategies and plans, which are critical to implementing the long-term development vision.This policy note summarizes the key issues in development planning, highlights the need to align national development plans with regional and global development frameworks and points out key actions that national governments and development partners can implement to promote development planning.