Dóchas - The Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations - was formed in October 1993, and is the result of a merger between CONGOOD - which represented the common interests of Irish NGDO's since 1974, and the Irish National Assembly - which links most Irish Non-Governmental Development Organisations (NGDOs) into a European Union network representing over 900 NGDOs.

Membership is open to non-profit making NGDOs independently established and located in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, who regard international development cooperation - including development education - as an important aspect of their aims and work. 



Dóchas aims to add value to the Irish development sector, by giving its members a forum to come together and to deal with issues collectively. In this way, Dóchas contributes to improving the work of its members, but it also represents the views of Irish NGOs towards the Irish government, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs and its development cooperation directorate, Ireland Aid.