In 2025, Spain’s strong economic performance stood out in a period of global economic turbulence, yet the country continued to face significant inequality and inequity, with poverty and social exclusion affecting an estimated quarter of the population. This material and social deprivation left around 8 per cent of the population having “great difficulty” making ends meet. It is important to note that while some indicators suggest poverty rates are going down, children are at particularly high risk of poverty and/or social exclusion, at 34 per cent.

To address these challenges, Action Against Hunger focused on defining, measuring, preventing and reducing the drivers of food security for vulnerable populations. We implemented employability and food security programmes, combining access to income with improvements in nutrition and the well-being of the most vulnerable households.

Throughout the year, the organisation supported more than 8,000 people (mainly women) through some 160 employability projects in 11 communities. As a result, more than a third of participants secured employment, with many others improving their work skills.

These programmes used cross-cutting strategies such as digitalisation, green jobs promotion, health promotion, business networking, and job placement services. In tandem with this, our food security and social inclusion initiatives helped to strengthen the economic autonomy and capacity of vulnerable families to access adequate and healthy food, highlighting the value of a holistic approach that uses employment, income and access to food as key components for breaking the cycle of poverty in Spain.