Participatory Budgeting Projects Worldwide

Shareable news site published 15 projects from around the world that demonstrate the potential of the Participatory Budgeting process. Participatory budgeting, in which people decide together how a portion of a government’s (or organization’s) budget is spent, is a proven way to give decision-making power to the people. It enables citizens to play an active role in shaping their community and creates more transparent governments.

Started in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989, participatory budgeting (PB), is now in over 1,500 locations around the world including schools, neighborhoods, cities, and more.

The participatory budgeting process is as follows (taken from the Participatory Budgeting Project):

1. Residents brainstorm spending ideas
2. Volunteer budget delegates develop proposals based on these ideas
3. Residents vote on proposals
4. Government implements the top projects

• View the Participatory Budgeting Projects