Participatory Budgeting via National Law

Available also in French, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese.

Download the full report in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Korean.

In the webinar, you hear directly from the authors about the report’s key findings, including why governments adopt national PB laws, the four different types of laws, what we know about their impact, and best practices to increase their impact.

Written by members of the Global PB Research Board, “Participatory Budgeting via National Law: What Works and What Doesn’t” describes the efforts of 11 countries to create a national legal framework for participatory budgeting (PB), along with key lessons from these experiences. It includes case studies, assessments of their strengths and areas for improvement, common challenges, and recommendations for advocates, donors, and governments considering this approach.

In this People Powered University event, the report’s lead authors, professors Stephanie McNulty and Won No, explain their key findings. Shreya Basu, OGP’s deputy director and regional lead for the Asia-Pacific, moderates the discussion. Additionally, practitioners and researchers from Scotland, South Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines discuss their experience with national PB laws and their potential impact on fiscal transparency and open governance.

Who leads this seminar?

  • Stephanie McNulty, professor of government, Franklin and Marshall College (United States). Stephanie is a Latin Americanist with expertise in participatory governance, gender, decentralization, and development. Her research has focused on participatory institutions in Latin America, with an emphasis on national mandates.

  • Won No, assistant professor of finance and economics, Shanghai University (China). Won’s research interests include participatory budgeting, participatory governance, public management, and voluntary actions, particularly how public participation affects government decision-making.

  • Shreya Basu, deputy director and regional lead for the Asia-Pacific, Open Government Partnership (Singapore). Shreya leads delivery, oversight, and team management for the OGP Support Unit’s work in the Asia-Pacific and Eastern regions. She is responsible for improving the services offered by OGP to governments and civil society in member countries..

  • Byungwoo (Shine) Cho, assistant professor, Konkuk University (South Korea). Byungwoo is a public administration scholar who researches local government affairs. His research interests revolve around public budgeting and finance, urban management, and public participation.

  • Juan Pablo Guerrero, network director, Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (United States). Prior to his work at GIFT, Juan Pablo was a founding commissioner and subsequently secretary general of the Federal Institute for Access to Information & Data Protection in Mexico. He also managed the Mentoring Governments for Transparency Program at the International Budget Partnership.

  • Martin Johnstone, chair, PB Scotland Strategic Group (Scotland). Martin has more than 20 years of experience in PB and works with a range of charities and other organizations in Scotland

Who is this seminar for?

  • National-level elected officials and civil servants working on participation and democracy in finance, community, economic development, and related departments.

  • National or regional advocates working on participation and democracy.

  • International NGOs and funders who support national-level public participation and democracy.

What will you get from this seminar?

After this seminar, you will be able to:

  • Identify four types of legal frameworks used to institutionalize PB.

  • Review 11 case studies from countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe where national PB legislation has been passed.

  • Understand the factors that facilitate the passage and effective implementation of national PB legislation.

  • Recognize common challenges faced by advocates and practitioners working to pass and implement national PB legislation.

  • Apply the report’s recommendations when considering national legislation in your country.

  • Download a free copy of the report Participatory Budgeting via National Law.

  • Access People Powered’s a free mentorship program for guidance on implementing a national PB legal framework

Report: Participatory Budgeting via National Law

Available now in English, French, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese.

Mentorship

Address specific challenges for implementing a climate-sensitive PB process through individual or group mentoring sessions with experts. 

*To sign up for mentorship you must have attended the webinar or have watched the recording, and completed the evaluation form.

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