The acronym ADOC means the Association for the Development of Community Organisations. It originated from the Nampula NGO Development Centre (NNDC) set up by COCAMO in the early 1990s to transform the COCAMO programme into a Mozambican organisation that would nurture other local NGOs. Unfortunately, different expectations, improper strategy and too fast a pace led to the demise of the NNDC. Out of its ashes came ADOC in 1994. It was created to strengthen the capacity of existing NGOs in Nampula through training and support services.

As a member-run umbrella organisation today, ADOC assists local NGOs to register, arranges training, provides access to a resource centre and lobbies government on their behalf. Membership currently exceeds 40, thus making it the largest provincial association of NGOs in Mozambique. The membership encompasses a diversity of rural, urban, small, large, funded and not funded organisations. Consequently, addressing the different problems, needs and priorities make ADOC work challenging.

ADOC currently receives funding from COCAMO, Trocaire, The Swiss Co-operation and DED (a German volunteer sending NGO). DED is also providing on the job training in the development of training curricula, participant selection, co-facilitation and follow-up to a core group of people among ADOC's members who have training/facilitating experience. Funds have also been set aside to hire outside facilitators where gaps remain. Training at the moment concentrates on the various aspects of project and organisational management, administration and fundraising.