Description
Participatory budgeting became very popular in Poland - more and more towns start to plan their budgets with citizens, but still there are no standards and tools for evaluation of these processes. The main idea of the project is to strengthen local governments, organisations, and citizens engaged in implementation of participatory budgets in their localities, through supplying them with tools and knowledge necessary for refining the processes. We will organise a series of meetings that will become a platform for exchange of experiences and learning for people who already implement participatory budgets, and for gaining knowledge on the mechanism and preparing to its implementation for those who only plan to use it. We will expand the resources of the portal partycypacjaobywatelska.pl with data on participatory budgets. Together with our partners we will develop tools supporting evaluation of the processes and a guide on how to implement participatory budget in line with the relevant standards and how to use it for a long-term enhancement of participatory mechanisms in local governments.
Summary of project results
"In recent years, the participatory budget (PB) has become a very popular mechanism in Poland. During the past four years alone, in the period between the launch of the first PB process at a local government in Poland (2011) and the kick-off of the project in the autumn of 2014, the number of PB processes carried out in Poland has gone up significantly (157 municipalities implemented the PB procedure). Unfortunately, these mechanisms very often failed to meet basic standards. The aim of the project was to reinforce local governments, NGOs and active citizens engaged in the implementation of PB within their communities through the supply of tools and expertise that ensure compliance of PB practices with the standards. Within the project people from more than 60 Polish municipalities have developed knowledge and skills for implementation of increasingly well-rounded BP processes. They have also learned from each other about more reflective approach to the application of participatory mechanisms. Educational meetings were dedicated to the exchange of experiences pursued by representatives of public administration, non-governmental organizations, local authorities and active citizens who take interest in PB-related subjects - both for those with municipality background and others, who are only planning on going live with it. At five municipalities Shipyard has reinforced processes for development of local PB models with active contribution from the local community. Three publications were developed about practical aspects of BP implementation (use of ICT tools, evaluation and various solutions which may be put in place across various stages of the procedure), as well as a website that serves as a repository of data about Polish PB processes. Partners: Institut de Govern Publiques (Barcelona) - helped in evaluation of PB and ICT tools that support BP processes worldwide, and the Association of Polish Cities - delivered expertise in terms of administration's perspective of the BP mechanism and reached local governments throughout Poland with information about the project and its deliverables."
Summary of bilateral results