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Participatory Budgeting Pilot in Albania

Participatory Budgeting Pilot in Albania . News from the Field: May – November 2004 Arsala Dean & Andr é Herzog. Highlights. Budget Process – Rules of the Game Inclusion of vulnerable groups Budget Transparency Dynamics of Participation. Budget Process. What Improved

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Participatory Budgeting Pilot in Albania

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  1. Participatory Budgeting Pilot in Albania News from the Field: May – November 2004 Arsala Dean & André Herzog

  2. Highlights • Budget Process – Rules of the Game • Inclusion of vulnerable groups • Budget Transparency • Dynamics of Participation

  3. Budget Process • What Improved • The first time the budget was publicly discussed. • Citizens were empowered –they had a mechanism to express their needs in the budget process. • Challenges • Clarification of the Rules of the Game • Sporadic information flow • Management of expectations • Coordination of activities need improvement • Unclear budget prioritizing criteria • Confusion with World Bank image • Suggestions for the Future • Better explanation of PB objectives • Involvement of citizens in coordination of PB activities and monitoring investments • Further decentralization of activities • Strengthen ownership

  4. Inclusion - Vulnerable Groups • What Improved • Vulnerable groups have a channel to be included in Budget Process • LG has a better mechanism to target their needs • Challenges • Where are they? the women? the poorest? the Children? the Disabled? the Newcomers? • Suggestions for the Future • Create a specific strategy to include vulnerable groups in PB • Don’t bring the vulnerable to the PB but bring the PB to the vulnerable people • Elect Women PB Council Representatives • Demonstrate Results • Use the Poverty Map to target resources to vulnerable groups, monitoring continuously impact

  5. Information Transparency • What Improved • Citizens understood the budgeting process and received budget figures • Citizens have a better understanding of the budgetary limitations of LG • Citizens are made aware of their neighbors’ realities • Challenges • Limited Human – Technical Capacity to manage budget information • Interruption in information flow in August/September • Information dissemination tools not always effective • Suggestions for the Future • User friendly information and communication means • Diversification of communication strategy • Increase involvement of citizen reps, facilitators in the organization of the PB to bridge current information gaps • Set-up a citizen information desk

  6. Dynamics of Participation • What Improved • From total disbelief and indifference to gradual increase in participation • Real trust building between government and citizens • Opportunity to break with void participatory projects and false promises • Challenges • Political interference, greater risk on election year • Uneven motivation and involvement of administrative staff • Accessibility to PB meetings, particularly to rural villages • Time constraints, particularly to women • Suggestions for the Future • Earlier involvement of local councils • Take advantage of all opportunities to show results of the PB to strengthen trust

  7. The PB Virtuous Cycle… PARTICIPATION TRUST TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY

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