Why be part of
?
1. “There are too many NGOs”
As Ireland’s aid budget is shrinking, calls for greater NGO cooperation are increasing. Some have suggested that
the vast number of not-for-profit organisations represent duplication of effort and that there would be scope
for better value for money.
The truth is that NGOs already are engaged in an array of coordination mechanisms, and that Irish NGOs adhere
to a series of professional standards.
Thanks to Dóchas, coordination, shared learning and
information exchange are built into the Irish Development NGO
sector.
2. “Small charities can’t make a big difference”
Irish Development NGOs know that their programmes work at a small scale,
but that they can only secure lasting improvements for the world’s poorest
people if they can influence international political processes, by mobilising
the skills, energies and power of others.
Through NGO networks and coalitions
such as Dóchas, Irish NGOs meet their
peers and challenge themselves to
reflect on their weaknesses and
alternatives to their approaches.
3. “NGOs are all about competition for funding”
For the general public, the main form of interaction with Development NGOs
tends to happen in the context of NGO fund-raising. The sector struggles to
communicate the complexity of Development processes and comes across as
disorganised and fragmented.
Dóchas helps its members to
better inform the general
public about development
issues, the work of
development NGOs and the
many ways in which NGOs
work together
4. “How do I know which NGO I can trust?”
With so many NGOs, it can be hard for members of the public to tell which
organisations are really making a lasting impact on poverty, and which
organisations deliver on the claims they make.
All Dóchas members have signed up to shared Codes of Conduct,
and they use the network to hold each other to account.
5. “NGOs don’t learn from their mistakes”
Irish NGOs know that they work in a challenging environment, and that there
is no one “silver bullet” approach in Development.
Effective NGOs are those who are willing to admit they are not perfect, and
are brave enough to ask others for assistance.
Learn from:
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Dóchas Working Groups
Dóchas Wednesday News
Dóchas Members Update
Dóchas “NGO Impact News”
Dóchas research
Dóchas & Dtalk trainings
Dóchas seminars and briefings
Dóchas Consultant Register
6. “If only we had known…”
6. “How do we know Dóchas has an impact?”
Don’t take our word for it;
Watch the video testimonies
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The “We Do Care” campaign avoided massive aid cuts.
Over 1,000 people attended Dóchas meetings last year – and they keep coming
back for more.
59 organisations signed onto the Code of Conduct on Images and Messages.
Politicians of all parties have welcomed our Submissions.
Record attendance at the AGM, where members expressed their satisfaction
with Dóchas’ work.
There’s only one way to tell:
- Ask yourself if Dóchas is delivering for you?
What Dóchas will do for you:
Leadership
Defending
the sector
Analysis of trends
and gaps
Formulating
NGO action
Critical
voice
Analysis
Resources
Wednesday
News
Newsletters
A space for
discussion
Topical
seminars
Working
Groups
Information
about Irish
Aid
Mutual trust
among members
Member to
member contact
Neutral
space
Moral
support
Credibility for
the sector
Visibility for
diversity of the
sector
A unifying voice
Strength in
numbers
Lobby on aid
issues
Representation
Conduit for govtNGO relations
A contact point for
the entire sector
A voice for
the sector
A portal to
Europe
What Dóchas will do for you:
Dóchas Programmes 2011-2014
1. Facilitate relationships and
networking for learning
2. Capture, articulate and
monitor NGO quality
3. Enhance NGO messages
about Development
4. Engage and mobilise for
Development
(contd)
Desired Outcomes
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Effective NGO cooperation
A development sector that
adheres to standards of
excellence
Public debate informed by NGO
experience and expertise
Government policies that
promote human development
What Dóchas will do for you: (contd)
Facilitating
relationships and
networking for
learning
Capturing, articulating
and monitoring NGO
quality
Enhancing NGO
messages about
Development
Engaging and
mobilising for
Development
• Create opportunities for exchange: seminars, Working Groups, etc
• Improve the effectiveness of Working Groups
• Capture and disseminate examples of lessons learned
• Provide effective news services
• Formulate an NGO vision of NGO Quality and Effectiveness
• Monitor adherence to the Dóchas Codes of Conduct
• Communicate shared NGO messages to media and politicians
• Develop templates and communications toolkits on key issues
• Ensure adherence to the Code of Conduct on Images & Messages
• Facilitating NGO-Government dialogue
• Incentivising Quality, by promoting quality-based Government funding
• Coordinating a campaign on ODA and the MDGs
• Assessing (NGO and Government) contributions to the MDGs
What’s Your View?
What services does Dóchas deliver for you?
What services should it deliver in the future?
What impact are we making?
How can we improve our services to you?
Let us know, and take an active part in our work!
anna@dochas.ie
www.dochas.ie