In Spain, youth work operates within a decentralized framework, with responsibilities devolved to the Autonomous Communities by Title VIII of the 1978 Constitution. This decentralization has resulted in a lack of a unified national legal framework for quality assurance in youth work.

Consequently, each region and municipality establishes its own criteria, leading to variability in standards and practices across Spain. 

Despite this, efforts to ensure quality in youth work are evident. For instance, regional youth institutes often implement scoring systems for job access, assessing candidates based on:

1. Professional experience: Experience in public administration, private sector, or self-employment.
2. Training: Academic degrees and official qualifications in youth-related fields.
3. Language proficiency: Knowledge of official and local languages.

These criteria, while not standardized nationally, reflect a commitment to maintaining quality in youth work practices

Structured Dialogue

Due to the absence of a national legal framework, Spain´s most significant participative youth work initiative takes place at the European level through the Structured Dialogue (Diálogo estructurado). This platform is used as the primary tool for consultation with youth, aiming to increase youth participation in decision-making processes related to European youth policy.

In Spain, this dialogue takes place between the following key actors:

• Representatives of ministries, particularly the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030).
• National youth councils, including  the Spanish Youth Council (Consejo de la Juventud de España) and the Institute of Youth (Instituto de la Juventud).
• Local and regional youth councils.
• Youth organizations, youth researchers and young people from diverse backgrounds.

Structured Dialogue is an important consultative process led by the European Commission that aims to promote mutual communication between young people and policymakers, with a particular focus on aligning priorities for European youth cooperation. 

The EU Youth Conference, organized by the EU presidency country, serves as the main event in this process, and each 18-month work cycle focuses on a thematic priority, set by the Council of Youth Ministers). 

The success of Structured Dialogue depends on the youth involvement and active participation from youth organizations, allowing young people’s voices to influence policy decisions at the European level.

More information can be found in sub-chapter 5.4. 

Youth Dialogue

In the seventh cycle of Structured Dialogue, the Youth Dialogue (Diálogo con la Juventud) was launched as a separate initiative with the goal of fostering further participation. This program aims to create inclusive platforms for youth workers, youth institutions and political decision-makers at national, regional, and local levels.

Key actors in Youth Dialogue at a national level are:

• National Working Group (NWG), comprising of INJUVE, as coordinator, the Spanish Youth Council and other youth national organizations. Their role is to coordinate and implement this programme across Spain.
• Youth Dialogue Embassies, which represent youth concerns to the local and regional policy-makers. Each of Spain´s 17 Autonomous Communities has an embassy, with ambassadors and agents responsible for conveying the priorities and challenges faced by youth.

This initiative allows youth to directly contribute to the e European Steering Committee for Youth, ensuring that their voices are heard in both national and EU-wide youth policy discussions. The Youth Dialogue fosters debate on a range of issues, from social inclusion to digital engagement, encouraging young people to actively shape policies that impact their future.

Spain has launched several programmes aimed at integrating digital technologies into youth work, responding to the rapid development of information technologies and their impact on social relations. 

These programs aim to reduce the digital divide and foster digital literacy among young people, as well as promote safe internet use (as detailed in sub-chapter 6.8). 

Red.es

Created as part of the Action Plan Info XXI (Plan de Acción Info XXI), in 2001, Red.es is a public entity that develops initiatives to foster digital economy, innovation, entrepreneurship and support for SMEs and training for young professionals while advocating a more efficient use of ICT.

Among its key initiatives are:

• chaval.es, which aims to reduce the digital gap between youth people, their families, and educators by promoting digital inclusion .
• Friendly Screens Initiative (Iniciativa Pantallas Amigas), which raises awareness about safe internet use for children and adolescents, ensuring that youth workers have the tools to guide young people safely in the digital environment. 

Secure Internet for Kids

Secure Internet for Kids (Internet Segura for Kids) aims to promote safe internet use and educate youth, families, educators and youth workers on online risks. It´s four main pillars include:

1. Training and sensitizing minors, youth, families, teachers, and youth workers about the risks and safe practices online.
2. Offering an online consulting service to help navigate harmful internet content.
3. Celebrating Safe Internet Day (Día de la Internet Segura en España), which raises awareness about online safety across Spain.
4. Reducing criminal online content, such as child sexual abuse, in collaboration with law enforcement officials.

Regional initiatives

Although these initiatives have national scope, autonomous communities develop their own specific programs to address local needs, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of digitalization in youth work. For example:

• Catalonia focuses on closing the digital gap through initiatives that integrate digital literacy into extracurricular youth programmes. Special attention is given to coding skills and cybersecurity.
• Andalusia has established youth innovation hubs that provide digital skills training and mentorship for young entrepreneurs in the tech sector, for example the AIR Andalusia Digital Innovation Hub. These hubs often collaborate with local startups to provide real-world experience.
• The Basque Youth Observatory runs e-safety workshops aimed at raising awareness about cyberbullying and privacy. These workshops are targeted at both youth and youth workers.
• Pantallas Amigas in Valencia focuses on safe internet practices through workshops tailored to local schools and youth centers, educating both youth and educators on digital responsibility.

Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Projects

Available data on the most recent Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) calls provides some insights into funding for Spanish projects supporting youth work in the digital field:

Sources: Erasmus+ Projects Results Platform. Filtered by projects coordinated by Spanish organizations in the field of youth. ESC Project Results Platform. Filtered by projects hosted by Spanish organizations