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1. Governance

2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance

Main actors

The highest authorities responsible for developing inclusive policies for young people are the Ministry of Youth and Children (Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia), established in 2023, alongside: 

• the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030)
• the Inter-Ministerial Youth Commission (coordinated by the Youth Institute (INJUVE). 

These entities collaborate closely with the Youth Institute (INJUVE).

The allocation of the inclusion portfolio to the ministry mentioned above is regulated through The Royal Decree 139/2020 of 28 January establishing the basic organisational structure of ministerial departments.

General distribution of responsibilities

Current strategies

As regards the Youth Strategy 2022-30 (Estrategia Juventud 2022-30) and the 2024-2030 National Strategy for the Prevention and Fight Against Poverty and Social Exclusion (Estrategia Nacional de prevención y lucha contra la pobreza 2019-2023), the agencies responsible for their approval were the Inter-Ministerial Youth Commission and the Council of Ministers, respectively.

NGOs participate through the State Council of Social Action for Non-Governmental Organizations (Consejo Estatal de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales de Acción Social), defined as a consultative body and a meeting point for dialogue and participation of associative movements in the elaboration of social policies. It is regulated by the Royal Decree 235/2005 and its present composition was established by the Resolution of November 18, 2011, (the organizations that comprise it can be found in Annex I of the document).

Among other matters, this council produces documents such as the Third Sector of Social Action Proposals for a Strategy of Social Inclusion in Spain towards 2020 (Propuestas del Tercer Sector de Acción Social para una Estrategia de Inclusión Social 2020 en España).

Upcoming Youth Law

As part of the ongoing development of Spain's first Youth Law, new responsibilities are expected to be assigned to key institutions to strengthen youth rights and participation. 

The Ministry of Youth and Children is leading the drafting process, with input from the Inter-Ministerial Youth Commission and the Youth Institute (INJUVE). 

The law aims to establish a more structured governance framework for youth policies, ensuring better coordination between national, regional, and local authorities. 

Cross-sectorial cooperation

Current strategies

Governance in the field of inclusion arises from an inter-governmental approach. The Social Inclusion Network 2024-2030 (Red de Inclusión Social 2024-2030, RIS) addresses the need for effective coordination between institutional actors and clear distribution of competencies among the different governmental levels - Ministries, Spanish Autonomous Communities and Local Administrations - as well as from the involvement of the third sector.

Financed by the European Social Fund and coordinated by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030). RIS serves as a platform for dialogue and information exchange among public administrations, NGOs, and labor unions working on social inclusion policies from European to local levels. 

Following an evaluation of the 2017-2023 RIS, the RIS 2024-2030 strategy includes:

Additionally, there is a growing focus on public-private collaboration, increasing the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in social inclusion efforts.

Upcoming Youth Law

The Youth Law, currently under development, aims to establish a more structured governance framework for youth policies, ensuring better coordination between national, regional, and local authorities. Additionally, the participatory process involves NGOs and youth organizations, reinforcing their consultative role in shaping policies that impact young people.

Several key steps in the legislative process have already been completed, including public consultation, the formation of a working group, and, most recently, the conclusion of territorial meetings aimed at gathering input from different regions of Spain (INJUVE).

Once enacted, the Youth Law is expected to provide a clearer distribution of responsibilities in the implementation and oversight of youth-related initiatives in Spain.