Taking advantage of our visit to Málaga to attend Andalucía Impacta 2026, the SpainNAB team, accompanied by some of its member organisations, visited one of its members in the territory, Asociación Arrabal, which opened its doors to us and welcomed us in a very warm gathering, prepared with care and in a fully informal atmosphere.
This space served, on one hand, to deepen our understanding of Arrabal’s work and, on the other, to share strategic visions about the present and future of the impact ecosystem in Spain, as well as about the financing needs that would allow this type of initiative to scale.
Arrabal’s role in social and labour inclusion in Málaga
Asociación Arrabal is an organisation with a long track record in promoting the social and labour inclusion of people in vulnerable situations. Its activities encompass training programmes, employment guidance, entrepreneurship and community action, with a comprehensive approach that seeks to generate real and sustainable opportunities. Through personalised pathways, Arrabal accompanies people throughout their integration process, working on both professional competencies and personal development.
Furthermore, the organisation stands out for its capacity to adapt to the needs of its environment, driving innovative projects that respond to current social challenges such as youth unemployment, social exclusion and inequality of opportunity. Its territorial focus and its connection to the Andalusian business fabric reinforce its impact, facilitating the creation of networks and real employment opportunities.
Within this framework, Arrabal also drives the work integration enterprise Hilo Doble, a key initiative to generate real job opportunities for people in vulnerable situations. Through this enterprise, economic activity is combined with social support, enabling people to gain professional experience in a protected environment while progressing towards their full integration into the labour market. These types of tools are fundamental for closing the circle between training, employability and effective inclusion.
Social and financial innovation: the social impact contract in Málaga
Arrabal is part of one of the intervention packages of the first social impact contract (SIC) signed in Spain with the Ayuntamiento de Málaga, a pioneering initiative that combines social and financial innovation to address complex territorial challenges.
This model makes it possible to mobilise results-oriented financing, aligning public administrations, investors and social entities around measurable impact objectives. Arrabal’s participation in this contract reinforces its role as a key actor in generating innovative and scalable solutions, as well as its capacity to integrate into advanced public-private collaboration schemes.
These types of gatherings form part of SpainNAB’s commitment to community building and strengthening dialogue within the impact ecosystem. Creating spaces for exchange among all key actors is fundamental for aligning visions, identifying common challenges and advancing shared solutions.
SpainNAB will continue to drive these connections as a central element of our mission, promoting a more cohesive, collaborative and results-oriented ecosystem, capable of effectively channelling resources towards initiatives that generate positive social and environmental impact.
