Social protection systems aim to protect individuals against concrete social risks, such as periods of unemployment or health problems. They provide a range of public services, from healthcare to childcare, as well as labour market and social inclusion programmes. However, people experiencing social exclusion are not a homogeneous group. They also often face multiple difficulties at once, making social and labour market integration a challenge. When applied in isolation and without co‑ordination with other policies, individual policies are less effective than integrated services or packages combining cash benefits and social integration pathways. Social and labour market inclusion pathways often emphasise the need to go beyond single support measures provided in isolation.

With an income poverty rate of 14.7%, higher than the OECD average, Spain grapples with serious issues of economic hardship and social exclusion. It has the fifth-highest child poverty rate among OECD countries. Moreover, nearly 27% of working-age Spaniards also face poverty or social exclusion, one of the highest rates in the European Union. They encounter numerous challenges: 28% are long-term unemployed, close to 40% have low education, 30% struggle to properly heat their homes, and over 70% suffer severe material deprivation without income support.

This chapter briefly discusses the concept of social exclusion and recalls its multidimensional nature. It presents data on the different population groups living in Spain that can be considered as socially excluded and characterises them in terms of the barriers to social inclusion they face and other socio‑economic characteristics. The approach presented in this chapter can serve as a tool for designing holistic social inclusion programmes and informing policy choices and priorities.

This chapter provides an overview of social inclusion policies in Spain at the central and regional levels. It provides an analysis of Spain’s regional inclusion plans and discusses the programmes in place in the areas of minimum income, labour, housing, education, health, care and digital skills. It also provides insights into the governance arrangements to promote horizontal and vertical integration for social inclusion.

This chapter presents the characteristics of the national minimum income scheme (Ingreso Mínimo Vital, IMV) introduced by the Spanish central government in 2020 in terms of eligibility, adequacy of support and coverage, as well as the main changes brought with the IMV work incentives package, which entered into force in 2023. Before the introduction of the IMV, Spanish regions operated their own minimum income schemes. Thus, this chapter also provides an overview of these regional minimum income schemes and analyses the co‑ordination mechanisms between national and regional stakeholders in providing minimum income benefits.

This chapter presents several examples from OECD countries aimed at providing coherent approaches to social inclusion policies. It starts by looking at policies to reduce income poverty by ensuring access to adequate support through minimum income schemes. The chapter also analyses how countries promote active inclusion and facilitate co‑ordinated services through co‑ordination mechanisms across different policy areas and how they promote more and better service integration.

This chapter discusses the advantages of developing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for Spain’s new social inclusion model for the beneficiaries of the national minimum income scheme (Ingreso Mínimo Vital, IMV). The chapter outlines a high-level framework and examines the human resources necessary for conducting M&E, both in terms of staff requirements and the use of external resources. It also discusses the data requirements. Ideally, the framework should be developed and implemented in co‑operation with relevant stakeholders. The chapter also provides specific examples for implementation regarding both the national-level framework and regional-level pilots.

This chapter suggests policy directions for Spain to improve its social inclusion policy framework. The chapter starts with recommendations to improve the take‑up and adequacy of minimum income benefits. It also provides ideas on how to improve the assessment of needs and co‑ordination of services to provide comprehensive and personalised inclusion itineraries for those who require them. Finally, the chapter discusses possible improvements in work incentives for individuals receiving a minimum income benefit and introduces a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the outcomes of reforms in social inclusion.