Lighthouse Network Policy Atelier – Session 2: Building cross-sectoral alliances 

15 September 2026 | 14:00–15:30 | Online 

Support services do not have to advocate alone. Building relationships with other stakeholders and social movements can help bring new perspectives, reach wider audiences and build stronger support for shared policy goals. 

But effective alliances require more than bringing organisations together. How can we find the right partners? How can different organisations coordinate their advocacy? And what can we learn from successful examples of cross-sectoral cooperation? 

The EASPD Policy Impact Group organised a policy atelier in three sessions to discuss and get tools to better navigate this political moment. The second session will explore practical approaches to building alliances and coordinating advocacy. It will look at how partnerships can help organisations respond to shared challenges, strengthen their advocacy and create greater opportunities to influence policy. 

This session will: 

• explore the value of cross-sectoral cooperation for advocacy; 

• look at practical approaches to building and maintaining alliances; 

• consider how organisations can coordinate action around shared priorities; and 

• share lessons from experiences of alliance-building and collective advocacy. 

Speakers 

Ruth Gazso-Candlish, CEU Democracy Institute, Alliance-building and coordinated advocacy amid austerity and democratic backsliding 

Thomas Bignal, EASPD, Building partnerships for impact: EASPD’s experience in alliance-building and collective action 

Register by 12 September EOB

Reserved for EASPD members only.