January 20, 2026 European outdoor NGOs partner to strengthen policy engagement

Three European outdoor industry campaign organizations announce a partnership to coordinate advocacy efforts and engagement with policymakers.

Protect Our Winters Europe (POW), the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) and the It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT) will work together to coordinate public affairs activity, maximizing its impact and minimizing duplication.

The three organizations will collaborate with specialist consultancy Ohana Public Affairs to roll out a sustained programme of engagement with policy makers that supports the outdoor industry’s objectives relating to CSR and sustainability, conservation, and the promotion of getting active in nature responsibly and inclusively.

POW, EOCA and IGOT are well-established non-profits in the outdoor sector. All three campaign on key issues that matter to businesses and other stakeholders operating in the industry, working closely with companies to advocate on a range of issues. With the support of Ohana, they will align their public affairs activities to engage and mobilize the collective influence of the industry, particularly in relation to upcoming policy developments. The partnership is intended to provide a single, stronger advocacy voice for the outdoors, behind which all stakeholders can unite to campaign on shared issues.

Industry perspectives on collaboration

For the It’s Great Out There Coalition, the partnership reflects a need for collective action. As Margo de Lange, secretary general of IGOT, notes:

“Proactive and effective advocacy is vitally important to drive change, not only in our industry, but also on a much larger stage, making positive differences for society and the planet as a whole. However, the issues at hand are far too big for a single NGO to tackle alone. We need a more holistic approach, so we have come together to deliver just that.”

From EOCA’s perspective, closer coordination is intended to address overlap in advocacy activity. Dan Yates, executive director of EOCA, explaines:

“Public affairs activity is fundamental to the work of all three organizations and while the areas that we work on are distinct, there is sometimes an overlap, and definitely duplication in who we engage with, whether that be industry stakeholders or policy makers. This partnership will provide a critical mass and a single focus for the outdoor sector’s advocacy programme, which will in turn deliver greater impact and clearer communications about that collective work.”

Shared framework and next steps

The organizations have also developed a shared policy framework to guide engagement with policymakers. Jonas Schneider, executive director at Protect Our Winters Europe, describes the approach:

“With Ohana, we have developed a policy matrix that captures the key thematic priorities for each organization, and identifies the opportunities for engaging with policy makers. We will now roll out activity that consistently and persistently targets the right institutions and individuals.”

“This coordinated approach will allow the outdoor industry to pierce the sometimes seemingly impenetrable Brussels bubble. The result will be a win-win for all involved, and for our industry as a whole.”

Lead photo: From left to right – Pascale Moreau of Ohana, Margo de Lange of IGOT, Gillian Rosh of POW, Dan Yates of EOCA