How to Become a Member

How to Become a Member

Dóchas has two types of membership - Full Membership and Associate Membership. Please see below for details on each type of membership. 

Full Membership 

Full Membership is open to organisations whose primary focus and spend is on international development work. Applicants for this category of membership must be non-profit International Development NGOs independently established and located in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland and who regard international development cooperation – including development education – as a primary aspect of their aims and work.

Please click here for more information on how to become a full member of Dóchas. 

Associate Membership 

Associate Membership is open to organisations whose international focus and spend is less than 50% of its overall activities. This category of membership is aimed at those organisations who do not meet the criteria for full membership but that work in related or similar fields to that of Dóchas members, with a linkage to International Development. This may include academia, civil society/voluntary and community organisations, Trade Unions, Charitable Trusts and Foundations, etc. 

Please click here for more information on how to become an associate member of Dóchas. 

Commitments and Standards 

Whether applying to be a full or associate members, all Dóchas members must comply with the following standards: 

• The Charities Governance Code (if they are a charity) 
• The Dóchas Charter
• The Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages 
• The Dóchas Safeguarding Code 

Membership Fees

The Dóchas membership fee structure is based on four key principles: 

• A transparent and fair fee system that respects and encourages a diverse and
  inclusive network committed to international development and humanitarian action.
• A fee structure that allows appropriate and sustainable income growth for the Dóchas
  Secretariat so that it remains fit for purpose to meet the needs of its members.
• A structure that maintains the members’ ownership and independence of the network
  by ensuring an appropriate balance between ‘membership funding’ and ‘institutional
  grants’.
• A system that is efficient and clear in order to minimise administrative costs, and
  allow multi-annual planning for both members and the Secretariat.

Notes

• If an organisation is eligible to be a Full Member it cannot apply for Associate Membership.
• Applications for membership must be received by the Dóchas secretariat by 31 January each year. 
• Associate Membership will be reviewed every 2 years.