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The Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) is an important tool for long-term development of any country. It attempts to balance state, public, private and donor interests into a single 10-year planning framework. Attempts to learn from experience of using the model have been gathered by the World Bank in almost 50 low-income pilot countries. These identify some of the benefits and constraints. This article takes the example of Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia where the CDF approach was introduced in 2001. The research is based on interim findings from a donor-funded project to assist the strengthening of the CDF. This assessment notes the way in which the CDF has been used to promote national identity and only latterly been more closely integrated with the National Poverty Reduction Strategy, which has a three-year plan. The range of stakeholders remains wide, putting pressure on the coordinating authority within the President’s Office. Important implications for monitoring and evaluation methodologies are drawn through pilot research in two districts. The need for local participation and bottom-up approaches is critical in order to balance the over-centralized approach of the past. Issues of capacity, including skills and systems for the coordinating body and other stakeholders, are crucial when considering what will work.