Implementing Participatory Budgeting in Portuguese Cities

Local councils faced a challenge in providing adequate resources and support in implementing participatory budgeting (PB) processes. PB is a democratic process that gives citizens a direct say in how public funds are allocated and spent in their communities. To address this challenge, WireMaze initiated a project to provide tools and knowledge to local council decision-makers to implement PB in their cities.

Challenge: Enable citizens to participate in the decision-making process and increase transparency and accountability in public spending.

Methodology: The project was carried out in three stages:

1

Assessment: The first stage involved assessing the current state of WireMaze’s PB platform. This involved collecting data and conducting interviews with current users, product development team, local council decision-makers and citizens.

2

Capacity Building: The second stage involved capacity building for local council decision-makers. This included training sessions and workshops on PB best practices and the use of digital tools for PB implementation. Developed WireAcademy initiative.

3

Implementation Support: The final stage involved providing ongoing support to cities during the implementation of PB processes. This included technical support and guidance on PB implementation and the use of digital tools.

Results

Results: The project resulted in the successful implementation of PB processes in several Portuguese cities. Decision-makers were empowered with the necessary knowledge and tools to carry out PB processes efficiently and effectively. The implementation of PB processes increased citizen engagement and participation in the decision-making process, leading to greater transparency and accountability in public spending.

Conclusion

Conclusion: The project demonstrated that providing support and capacity building to local council decision-makers is crucial for the successful implementation of PB processes in Portuguese cities. The project highlights the importance of empowering citizens to participate in the decision-making process and ensuring that public funds are allocated and spent in a transparent and accountable manner.