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 Challenges Suggestions for the Future
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