Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion

Italy has a comprehensive national strategy for social inclusion of young people through complementary instruments:

1. National Plan for Social Interventions and Services 2024-2026, adopted on 2 April 2025 (See 4.2). This unified plan provides the general framework for social interventions and services throughout Italy.
2. National Programme for Youth, Women and Work 2021-2027 (PN Giovani, Donne e Lavoro), approved by the European Commission on 1 December 2022. This programme specifically targets youth employment and social inclusion, addressing young people who are furthest from the labour market.
3. The National Programme for Inclusion and Fight against Poverty 2021-2027 (See 4.2), which supports vulnerable groups including young people in poverty.
4. Poverty-combating measures and active inclusion policies, including the transition from Citizenship Income (Reddito di Cittadinanza) (established by Law 26/2019) to Inclusion Allowance (Assegno di Inclusione) from January 1, 2024 (Law 48/2023).

These strategies aim to facilitate professional integration, improve living conditions, and reduce social inequalities among young people. Key priorities addressing youth distress include employability promotion (Chapter 3), combating school and educational dropout (Chapter 6), and promoting living conditions above the poverty line.

Scope and content

The social inclusion strategy for young people is fully integrated within broader national frameworks.

National Plan for Social Interventions and Services 2024-2026

The plan is structured in three sections (See 4.2):

1. General Framework: Overall context for social policy planning
2. National Social Plan 2024-2026: Programmatic tool for National Social Policy Fund resources, defining interventions and services for progressive implementation of Essential Levels of Social Services (LEPS) guaranteed throughout Italy. Allocates at least 40% of resources to strengthen interventions in childhood and adolescence areas, including support for vulnerable families through the P.I.P.P.I. programme.
3. National Plan for Social Interventions and Services to Combat Poverty 2024-2026: Programmatic tool for Poverty Fund resources, financing interventions and services for Inclusion Allowance beneficiaries and families in similar economic distress, including €20 million for extreme poverty and homelessness interventions and €5 million for care leavers.

The 2024-2026 Plan allocates approximately €3 billion over three years: €1.193 billion from the National Social Policy Fund and €1.813 billion from the Poverty Fund

National Programme for Youth, Women and Work 2021-2027

The National Programme for Youth, Women and Work 2021-2027 (PN Giovani, Donne e Lavoro), represents Italy's comprehensive strategy for promoting youth employment and social inclusion through active labour market policies. With total resources of €5.088.668.334 (€2.682.534.000 ESF+ and €2.406.134.334 national co-financing), the programme targets young people, women, and vulnerable persons.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies serves as Managing Authority (following suppression of ANPAL on 1 March 2024), with implementation carried out by Regions, Autonomous Provinces, and designated central administrations as intermediate bodies.

The programme is structured around five thematic priorities and one technical assistance priority:

1. Priority 1: Facilitating youth entry into work (€2.717.455.905).Targets young people, especially those furthest from the labour market, through personalized pathways including reception at regional employment centres, specialized orientation, accompaniment, and concrete offers of employment, apprenticeship, traineeship, or training.
2. Priority 2: Promoting employment of women and vulnerable persons (€1.091.275.217)
3. Priority 3: Training new competencies in digital and ecological transitions (€800.262.368)
4. Priority 4: Modernizing employment services and active policies (€537.176.114)
5. Priority 5: Strengthening competencies in critical technologies of STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) sectors.
6. Priority 6: Technical Assistance (€100.032.794)
    

PNRR Mission 5 

Mission 5 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) strengthens measures over five years with €6.66 billion investment, supporting female empowerment, combating gender discrimination, increasing youth employment opportunities, and fostering territorial rebalancing.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Italian strategy incorporates multiple monitoring and evaluation mechanisms:

1. Information System of the Social Services’ Offer (SIOSS), established by Decree-Law 147/2017, collects comprehensive data on social needs, benefits, and service delivery, enabling evidence-based policy planning and monitoring of Essential Levels of Social Services (LEPS) implementation.
2. Network of  Social Protection and Inclusion conducts regular assessments of national plan implementation through its multi-level governance structure, with annual consultations involving social partners and third sector representatives.
3. ESF+ programme monitoring follows EU regulatory requirements, with the Managing Authority (Ministry of Labour and Social Policies) tracking strategic operations through specific indicators for economic resources, target beneficiaries, territorial impact, and innovation capacity.