Social inclusion, the opposite of social exclusion, is affirmative action to change the circumstances and habits that lead (or have led) to social exclusion. As stated by the World Bank, social inclusion is the process of improving the ability, opportunity and value of people, disadvantaged by their identity, to participate in society.[1]​ The World Bank's 2019 World Development Report on the changing nature of work[2]​ suggests that greater social protection and better investments in human capital improve equality of opportunity and social inclusion.

In 2014, the World Bank defined social inclusion as the “process of empowering people and groups to participate in society and take advantage of their opportunities. Gives people a voice in the decisions that influence their lives so that they can enjoy equal access to markets, services and political, social and physical spaces”; while ECLAC has defined it as the "process by which equality is achieved, and as a process to close gaps in productivity, skills (education) and employment, labor segmentation, and informality, which turn out to be the main causes of inequality."[3]​.

Its international interpretation has agreed that this is a concept that is developed beyond systemic poverty, and that is responsible for subtle concepts that include both economic and social problems of a specific social group.[3]​.

Australia

Ministers of Social Inclusion have been appointed and special units have been established in several jurisdictions around the world. The first Minister for Social Inclusion was the Premier of South Australia&action=edit&redlink=1 "Minister for Social Inclusion (South Australia) (not yet drafted)" Mike Rann"), who took over the portfolio in 2004. Based on the UK's Social Exclusion Unit"), established by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997, Rann established the Social Inclusion Initiative in 2002. It was headed by Monsignor David Cappo") and was served by a unit within the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Cappo served on the executive committee of the South Australian Cabinet") and was later appointed Commissioner for Social Inclusion with broad powers to address social disadvantage. Cappo was allowed to roam through agencies given that most social disadvantage has multiple causes requiring a "joined up" response rather than a single agency.[4]​ The initiative prompted major investment by the South Australian Government in strategies to combat homelessness, including the establishment of Common Ground, the construction of high-quality inner-city apartments for homeless people who were "sleeping on the street", the Street to Home initiative[5]​ and the Flexible Learning Programme. ICAN. designed to improve school retention rates. It also included significant funding to revamp mental health services following Cappo's "Stepping Up" report, which focused on the need for community and intermediate levels of care[6]​ and a review of disability services.[7]​ In 2007, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Julia Gillard as the country's first social inclusion minister.[8]​.