Scaling up participatory budgeting for fostering resilience and prosperity of urban and regional development
Networking EventsRoom 405
Lead organization:
- ASSOAL - Association pour l’Amour du Livre et le Développement Local
Partners:
- African Local Governments Academy (ALGA) - Authority for the Promotion of Participation of Tuscany Region - Center for Social Studies of Coimbra University (CES) - Development Planning Unit of UCL (DPU) - Kota Kita – A city for All - Local Initiatives Support Program – Russia (LISP and WB Russia Country Office) - Secretariat of the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy (OIDP), Swedish Association of Municipalities and Regions (SALAR)
Since the first experiences in Brazil, Participatory Budgeting has spread worldwide, proving to be one of the best device for involving citizens in decision-making about public policies and projects. Actors such as State institutions, international multilateral entities, associations of mayors, civil society organizations, universities, technical and financial partners are committed to increase its use.
The session will focus on different mechanisms through which significant scaling up is being attained through: [a] massive mobilization and advocacy from civil society organizations; [b] National organizations of cities and local governments; [c] National laws or Metropolitan decrees turning PB into a compulsory and regulated practice; [d] large international aid supported national PB program and [e] initiative at Central Government level. The results of these different mechanisms for 'scaling-up' are very suggestive and inspiring that need to be exchanged and reflected upon. As a whole, they highlight a huge potential to integrate and complement the local experiences, dealing in a more efficient way with broader issues than those faced at municipal or infra-municipal level, and incentivizing the consolidation of a stronger participatory culture.
The adaptation of the device to the new scope has visible effects on learning practices, the use of Information and Communication Technologies and the issues related to social inclusion and demo-diversity of participants. In a world which counts today more than 3,500 Regional and Local Authorities committed to the concrete implementation of Participatory Budgeting, this networking event wish to provide opportunities to share tools and approaches to scale up participatory budgeting as a way of improving resilience of local territories and the sharing of governance innovations from our cities and regions. The overall session's objective is to point out significant and practical ways and means to attain the SDGs through the scaling up of PBs at global level.
