Nepali non-governmental organizations working for peace  and human rights are eligible to apply for COCAP membership. All the members are a part of the General Assembly, which is the apex decision making body. The General Assembly meets atleast once a year to review the past, and revise and pass policies, plans the programs for the future. The General Assembly decides in its annual meetings the number of new memberships to be granted in the next year and about the elimination of the members from the network if they are found not adhering to COCAP vision, mission, goal and objectives. Currently, COCAP has 44 member organizations. Each member organization and COCAP as a collective have agreed to the policy of forging issue-based alliances with as many human rights, peace and social organizations as possible.

COCAP has a 15-member Board. The General Assembly elects a 14 members in the Board whereas a representative in the Board is elected from volunteers through volunteers’ general meeting. This executive committee (central) meets every three months. COCAP has five regional committees, one in each development region. The members of the respective regions choose the regional chirperson, secretary and treasurer themselves. All other organizations of the region are members of the regional committee. The regional chairperson automatically becomes a member of the central executive committee.

Out of the 15 positions in the Executive Committee, three, including one of the key positions of the Chairperson, General Secretary or Treasurer, are reserved for women. One other position is reserved for Dalit, one for janajati, one for madheshi, two positions reserved for women representatives, one for Karnali region and one for volunteer. Similarly 5 positions are of the regional chairpersons from each development region. The Chairperson is barred from filing candidature in the consecutive election to ensure change of leadership.

COCAP’s Organogram

Membership is awarded to organizations with clear commitments to work on human rights and peace building issues. The applicant organization has to submit annual progress and audit reports, its future plans and also state its expectations from and possible contribution to COCAP and its members. Membership has to be renewed every year.

The Spirit of Volunteerism at COCAP

A large number of volunteers affiliated to COCAP are from various walks of life – students, journalists, university teachers, lawyers, differently-abled, refugees, intellectuals and businessmen. Promotion of volunteerism among youth in the movement towards peace and human rights has been one of the key components of COCAP. COCAP recognizes that volunteers are essential in carrying out tasks and to provide technical and administrative support. At present, there are nearly 300 volunteers working for COCAP and COCAP member organizations.