Electoral cycle is a key factor in determining the duration of development planning cycle hence the tendency for medium term planning of averagely 5 years. Ideally a longer term plan of at least 10 years is long enough to build a foundation and achieve long term objectives. The longer term plan can then be broken down into medium-terms of 3 -5 years. The 3 -5 years are long enough to realize and evaluate milestones hence do adjustments if necessary.
