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Articles

22 Jan 2025

Participatory Budgeting: Meaning, Benefits & A Step-by-Step Guide

By Natasha Martell for Delib

This article introduces participatory budgeting, a democratic process empowering citizens to influence public fund allocation. It covers its origins in Porto Alegre, Brazil, outlines key stages, and highlights benefits like transparency, trust, and community empowerment, making it an ideal resource for those exploring the concept.

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Summary

This article provides an overview of participatory budgeting, making it an helpful starting point for those new to the concept. Key features of the article include:

  • A definition of participatory budgeting as a democratic process where citizens influence how public funds are allocated.
  • A historical case study of Porto Alegre, Brazil, where participatory budgeting originated and demonstrated its potential to address social inequalities.
  • An explanation of the stages involved in participatory budgeting, such as planning, discussions, proposal development, voting, implementation, and evaluation.
  • Insights into the benefits of participatory budgeting, including fostering transparency, trust, and community empowerment.
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