Introduction to participatory budgeting

Introduction to participatory budgeting

Before delving into the more technical aspects of participatory budgeting, we’ll use the learning material here to introduce this well-known and widely practiced social accountability tool. We will define both the technical and social aspects of PB, describe its origins, and look briefly at where and how it has been used around the world since its first use in 1989 in Brazil.

Next, in the multimedia presentation and in the related readings, we’ll unpack the six dimensions of PB: Participation, inclusion, financial, legal, territorial, and cultural. Lastly, we’ll look at why PB is important in its own right as well as part of a broader, more holistic social accountability system that involves citizen participation at each stage of the public financial management cycle.

Learning objectives By the end of this module you will:

Explain what is meant by PB and where it has been implemented
Articulate the key benefits PB can bring to public management and civil society
Summarize the key building blocks and preconditions for PB
Last modified: Thursday, 20 March 2014, 3:48 PM