. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .
By the coordinator of the CPNN
I recently visited two cities in Brazil, Santos and Caruaru, where participatory budgeting is being practiced.
Participatory budgeting is an important instrument for promoting democratic participation, as it allows the citizen to debate and define the future of a city. In it, the population decides the priorities of investments in works and services to be realized each year, with the resources of the budget of the city hall. In addition, it encourages the exercise of citizenship, the commitment of the population to the public good and the co-responsibility between government and society on the management of the city.
Here are two examples.
Santos, Brazil: Participative Budget has already received 43 thousand votes
An article from the City of Santos
About 43 thousand people have already expressed their views on the priorities that the City Hall should adopt for 2018, through the Participatory Budget process. Next week, the total should reach 50 thousand participations (more than four times the goal, of 12 thousand, established in the PDR – Direct Participation in Results).
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Participatory budgeting, How does it work?
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An Ombudsman team was present today at the UME Auxiliadora da Instrucção, in Macuco, for elementary students to vote on the benefits they expect for Education. Teams were also present at the health units, street markets and supermarkets.
To vote, click here. Just enter, identify the neighborhood where you live and vote. The alternatives are provided within the fields of Citizenship and Social Action, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Environment, Public Services, Education, Health and Urban Mobility. You can choose one option in each of them.
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Caruaru, Brazil: Municipality to launch an application for popular participation
An article from Te Amo Caruaru
On Friday (25), the Secretariat for Planning, Budget and Management will hold a public hearing for the General Consolidation of “Mobiliza Caruaru”, in the auditorium of the Shopping Center Difusora, at 9:00 am, attended by the mayor of Caruaru, Raquel Lyra.
The main purpose is to show citizens the final result of the nine public sessions held in the Agreste capital, four in the rural area and five in the urban area. This process contributes to the structuring of municipal budget planning, which also includes the Budgetary Guidelines Law and the Annual Budget Law for 2018. The multi-year plan will be forwarded to the City Council by October 05, according to the legislation.
At that time, the application “Mobiliza Caruaru” will also be presented, initially available for Android phones. This mobile application will be another tool for the population to interact, as well as consolidate participatory and collaborative processes between the municipal government and civil society and its various organizations.