Development is a complex term that takes in many different ideas. But most simply, development, when we are talking about countries, means reaching an acceptable standard of living for all people. It means people having the basic things they need to live.

This is an aim which international organizations, governments, non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations strive to reach. Yet, sometimes, despite best intentions and sufficient resources allocated, policy goals are not reached, though good solutions are designed. The many actions of many actors, each with potentially different perspectives, values, and strategies involve separate actions with separate effects while trying to solve the same problems and reach the same goal.

These actions form what is called policy processes. Each phase of the policy cycle is populated with different people and organizations, as well as interest groups. Sometimes the development goals themselves are challenged by the people involved, as well as the difficulty of coordination and communication between their agendas