Here we should include the inter-institutional groups belonging to governmental, private, and mixed institutions involved in health and other activities on social development who share a common philosophy. As stated by aforementioned authors, a healthy alliance is a means not an end. They consider eight essential characteristics for obtaining a successful alliance:

- A common task or purpose;

-members are selected because they have specific expertise;

- members know their own roles and those of other members;

- members support each other in the task;

-members support each other in their skills and personalities;

- members have a commitment to accomplishing the task;

-there is a leader who will coordinate and take responsibility, and

-the team may have a base.